Russian space program 50 years after Gagarin

April 2011

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Russian space program 50 years after Gagarin

On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin was the first man to travel into outer space. Fifty years later, Russias space industry has come a long way from that initial 89-minute voyage. Through constant innovation, the Russian space program has grown from performing scientific experiments, to servicing the space station Mir, and now to commercial satellite launches and space tourism. Below are some key facts about this industry, which is a key driver of innovation for Russia and the world.

A GLOBAL LEADER IN SPACE Outer space has remained a preeminent focus in Russia, regardless of the economic situation. Vladimir Putin told the Russian space program leaders in July 2010: The space rocket field has been one of the state's priorities since its inception. Space has always occupied a special place for us, and I hope it will continue to do so. And so, despite the difficulties we face because of the downturn, the space sector received all the money originally allocated, in accordance with the approved programs. Speaking with the crew of the International Space Station last year, President Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that space is one of our five big national technological modernisation priorities. This sums up completely the importance we place on (it). On April 5, 2011, Mr. Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Bloomberg We are increasing the space budget as the time has come for a technological breakthrough, adding that, We need to replace outdated infrastructure and continue to support the flagship status of the space industry. According to the 2011 launch schedule, 50 Russian spacecraft will be launched, and a federal program for the management of the GLONASS navigation system the Russian equivalent of the GPS system - will be adopted. Russia has become the global leader in space launches, sending a total of 31 successful space missions in 2010, compared with 16 by the U.S. Russia ranks fourth in terms of funding of civil space activity, after the U.S., Europe and China.

KEY PLAYERS Roscosmos: The Russian space program has undergone vast changes since a 2004 initiative that allocated more money for space exploration and development. The agency is now halfway through the Federal Space Plan 2006-15. The program allocated $8 billion over ten years for space programs, with additional funds being supplemented for military and GLONASS systems. The plan also provides for 70 non-military craft to be put in orbit by 2015. As part of the Space and Telecoms working group of the Presidential commission on Modernization and Technological Development of the Russian economy, Roscosmos is implementing a number of projects, including an emergency response system for potential problems with the ERA GLONASS system, and creating a complete production cycle for a new generation of solar panels. Energia Rocket and Space Corporation: Russias umbrella organization for the creation and operation of manned rocket complexes and systems, launch vehicles, unmanned space systems and high space technology. It oversees Russias responsibilities for its section of the International Space Station (ISS). Since 2007, it has produced and launched 20 spacecraft and completed 10 major expeditions which transported 30 cosmonauts and astronauts to the ISS. Russian ScanEx: ScanEx provides acquisition and thematic processing of Earth observation images from space. Its research and development section is known for producing geoportals tools for territory management on the basis of continuously updated information about the Earth using information from satellites.

Russian Institute of Space Engineering (RSIDE): RSIDE is in charge of the development, production, operation and maintenance of multi-functional space and ground-based systems. It has developed the ground control operations for rocket and spacecraft launches in Russia and from the cosmodrome at Baikonur, the Sea Launch site, as well as on-board control and telemetry systems for the service module of the International space station. Orbital Technologies: In October 2010, the CEO of Orbital Technologies Sergei Kostenko announced plans for the construction of the first orbital hotel. Together with RSC Energia, Orbital Technologies plans to build, launch and operate the worlds first commercial space station. The commercial venture will be able to host a crew of seven people and will be compatible for service with the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. According to Kostenko, the platform will allow for various possible uses, from medical research and material processing to space tourism. If needed, the platform could also be used as an emergency refuge for the ISS crew, or serve as the gateway to the solar system for deep space exploration missions.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, A KEY FACTOR OF SUCCESS On April 7, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by Russia declaring 12 April International Day of Human Space Flight: Russias permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin read a statement from President Medvedev stating: I am convinced that multilateral cooperation for the exploration and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes will be extended to an increasing number of countries, that it will promote joint efforts aimed at finding solutions to global problems and for the scientific and technological progress of mankind. International Space Station (ISS): A Russian-American endeavor that began in 1993 with participants from Canada, Japan and EU countries. The ISS consists of two integrated segments (Russian and US) and has been incrementally assembled in orbit from individual modules. RSC Energia partners with Boeing in combining the two sections and the orbital platform will be used until 2020. NASA cooperation with Roscosmos: NASA and the Russian space program have established an enduring partnership in international space cooperation. Russia has shuttled more than 20 NASA astronauts since 1995, and following this years termination of the American space shuttle program, the Russian space agency will transport, train, and incur all other costs associated with putting American astronauts into space. The current contract extension is worth $753 million, running until June 2016. International cooperation on GLONASS: Roscosmos signed agreements and memoranda of cooperation on the use of GLONASS technologies with a host of countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, and India. Further agreements are being lined up with Chile, Nicaragua, Peru and Saudi Arabia to make the system more widely available around the world. As part of the ongoing space dialogue, Russia and the EU are discussing the possibility of cooperation between the ERA GLONASS satellite and the Europes Galileo system. Meanwhile talks are ongoing with between Russia and the US towards compatibility and interoperability between GLONASS and GPS. Arianespace: French Arianespace is the commercial launch service leader, having orbited more satellites to geostationary transfer orbit than any other provider in the world. In its Russian operations, it has operated the Soyuz medium launcher at Baikonur (Kazakhstan) since 1999, with 22 successful commercial launches. The Russian-designed Soyuz, in use since 1957 when it put Sputnik into orbit, has been used in more than 1,700 missions. At the 2010 St. Petersburg forum, CEO of Arianespace Jean-Yves Le Gall and Russian space program head Anatoly Perminov signed an agreement that will see Arianespace order up to 10 Soyuz launches, to be performed from the Guiana Space Center. Russian cooperation with European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS): Atrium, a subsidiary of EADS and Russian firm ScanEx, signed an agreement in September 2010 giving the company exclusive distribution rights for Spot 6 and Spot 7 satellites. The satellites, used in mapping,

forestry and disaster management, will give ScanEx exclusive access to high resolution optical data, which was used to assess damage in Russia after last years wildfires. In addition, in March 2011, EADS agreed to open an aerospace technology research facility at the Skolkovo Innovation Centre. Viktor Vekselberg, Executive President of the Skolkovo Foundation said the partnership would allow (Skolkovo) to do a strategic outlook on the space technology cluster which is to be set up at Skolkovo. EADS Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti added that he was very pleased about the agreement and said: Establishing relationships with esteemed groups like Skolkovo is part of EADS long-term strategy to build a global integrated research capability to meet the demanding needs of our customers. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS Soyuz launch April 5, 2011: The latest successful launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome transported two cosmonauts and one American astronaut to the ISS and will join three other crew who have been there since December. Later this year, Soyuz rockets will launch from the European Space Agencys Guiana site after construction was completed in early April. The Soyuz missions are mainly expected to transport satellites into orbit and supplies to the ISS. Roscomos announces it may send men to the moon in next decade: Announced after the successful April 5 Soyuz launch, the Russian space program said due to an increased budget it may attempt to send manned missions to the moon within the next 10 years, and possibly establish a base there by 2030. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems are currently partnering on the cooperative project Mars500, which is designed to gather data to help prepare for a manned mission to Mars. Five more GLONASS satellites to launch in 2011: Roscosmos announced that it will finalize the GLONASS satellite navigation system in late 2011 when it launches the final five satellites into orbit, giving the system 100 percent coverage of Russia and 98 percent of global mapping capabilities. Nine additional space centers to be set up across Russia: Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov announced in early March that nine space centers would be built in addition to the eight existing ones already in operation in Russia. The centers are typically used for satellite monitoring of land, natural resources, real estate, and providing security for bridges and power plants. They will be linked up with the Glonass satellite system once operational. Perminov also said recently that a key priority is revamping the Russian orbit group with new generation spacecraft. Russia to construct new cosmodrome in Russian Far East: The government has pledged $800 million to build a new spaceport near the town of Uglegorsk to ease the use of the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Scheduled to open by 2015, the facility will include new launch pads, a residential compound and research laboratories.

LINKS Roscosmos European Space Agencys permanent mission to Russia Cosmonaut Maxim Suarevs blog while aboard the ISS YuriGargarin50.com Arianespace ScanEx

Russian Institute of Space Device Engineering European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company Institute of Biomedical Problems Scientific and Technical Advisory Council Roscosmos Geoportal April 2011