Spaceship of the future. Brief glossary of some space terms and names

On July 21, 2011, the American spacecraft Atlantis made its last landing, which put an end to the long and interesting Space Transportation System program. For a variety of technical and economic reasons, it was decided to discontinue the operation of the Space Shuttle system. However, the idea of ​​a reusable spacecraft was not abandoned. Currently, several similar projects are being developed at once, and some of them have already managed to show their potential.

The Space Shuttle project had several main goals. One of the main ones was to reduce the cost of the flight and preparation for it. The possibility of repeated use of the same ship in theory gave certain advantages. In addition, the characteristic technical appearance of the entire complex made it possible to significantly increase the allowable dimensions and payload mass. A unique feature of the STS was the ability to return spacecraft to Earth inside its cargo bay.

However, during the operation it was found that not all of the tasks were completed. So, in practice, preparing the ship for flight turned out to be too long and expensive - according to these parameters, the project did not fit into the original requirements. In a number of cases, a reusable ship could not, in principle, replace "ordinary" launch vehicles. Finally, the gradual moral and physical obsolescence of equipment led to the most serious risks for the crews.

As a result, it was decided to terminate the operation of the Space Transportation System complex. The last 135th flight took place in the summer of 2011. The four available ships were decommissioned and transferred to museums as unnecessary. The most famous consequence of such decisions was the fact that the American space program was left without its own manned spacecraft for several years. Until now, astronauts have to get into orbit with the help of Russian technology.

In addition, for an indefinite period, the entire planet was left without reusable systems in use. However, certain measures are already being taken. To date, American enterprises have developed several projects of reusable spacecraft of one kind or another at once. All new samples have already, at least, been put to the test. In the foreseeable future, they will also be able to enter full operation.

Boeing X-37

The main component of the STS complex was an orbital aircraft. This concept is currently being applied to Boeing's X-37 project. Back in the late nineties, Boeing and NASA began to study the topic of reusable spacecraft capable of orbiting and flying in the atmosphere. At the beginning of the last decade, this work led to the launch of the X-37 project. In 2006, a prototype of a new type reached flight tests with a drop from a carrier aircraft.

The Boeing X-37B in the fairing of the launch vehicle. Photo US Air Force

The program interested the US Air Force, and since 2006 it has been implemented in their interests, albeit with some assistance from NASA. According to official data, the Air Force wants to get a promising orbital aircraft capable of launching various cargoes into space or performing various experiments. According to various estimates, the current X-37B project can also be used in other missions, including those related to reconnaissance or full-fledged combat work.

The first space flight of the X-37B took place in 2010. At the end of April, the Atlas V launch vehicle launched the device into a given orbit, where it stayed for 224 days. Landing "like an airplane" took place in early December of the same year. In March of the following year, the second flight began, which lasted until June 2012. In December, the next launch took place, and the third landing was carried out only in October 2014. From May 2015 to May 2017, the experimental X-37B carried out its fourth flight. On September 7 last year, another test flight began. When it ends is not specified.

According to a few official data, the purpose of the flights is to study the operation of new technology in orbit, as well as to conduct various experiments. Even if the experienced X-37Bs solve military tasks, the customer and contractor do not disclose such information.

In its current form, the Boeing X-37B product is a rocket plane with a characteristic appearance. It is distinguished by a large fuselage and medium-sized planes. A rocket engine is used; control is carried out automatically or by commands from the ground. According to known data, the fuselage provides for a cargo compartment with a length of more than 2 m and a diameter of more than 1 m, which can accommodate up to 900 kg of payload.

Right now, the experienced X-37B is in orbit and is solving assigned tasks. When he will return to Earth is unknown. Information about the further course of the pilot project is also not specified. Apparently, new messages about the most interesting development will appear no earlier than the next landing of a prototype.

SpaceDev / Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser

Another version of the orbital aircraft is the Dream Chaser from SpaceDev. This project has been developed since 2004 to participate in the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, but could not pass the first stage of selection. However, the developer company soon agreed to cooperate with United Launch Alliance, which was ready to offer its Atlas V launch vehicle. aircraft. Later, an agreement appeared with Lockheed Martin on the joint construction of experimental equipment.

Experienced orbital plane Dream Chaser. Photo by NASA

In October 2013, the flight prototype of the Dream Chaser was dropped from a carrier helicopter, after which it went into a gliding flight and performed a horizontal landing. Despite the breakdown during landing, the prototype confirmed the design characteristics. In the future, some other tests were performed on the stands. According to their results, the project was finalized, and in 2016 the construction of a prototype for space flights began. In the middle of last year, NASA, Sierra Nevada and ULA signed an agreement to conduct two orbital flights in 2020-21.

Not so long ago, the developers of the Dream Chaser received permission to launch at the end of 2020. Unlike a number of other modern developments, the first space mission of this ship will be carried out with a real load. The ship will have to deliver certain cargoes to the International Space Station.

In its current form, the reusable spacecraft Sierra Nevada / SpaceDev Dream Chaser is an aircraft of a characteristic appearance, outwardly resembling some American and foreign developments. The machine has an overall length of 9 m and is equipped with a delta wing span of 7 m. For compatibility with existing launch vehicles, a folding wing will be developed in the future. The takeoff weight is determined at the level of 11.34 tons. The Dream Chaser will be able to deliver 5.5 tons of cargo to the ISS and return up to 2 tons to Earth. Deorbiting “like an airplane” is associated with less overloads, which, as expected, can be useful for the delivery of some equipment and samples as part of individual experiments.

SpaceX Dragon

For a number of reasons, the idea of ​​an orbital plane is currently not very popular among the developers of new space technology. More convenient and profitable is now considered a reusable ship of the "traditional" appearance, launched into orbit with the help of a launch vehicle and returning to Earth without the use of wings. The most successful development of this kind is the Dragon product from SpaceX.

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship (CRS-1 mission) near the ISS. Photo by NASA

Work on the Dragon project started in 2006 and was carried out as part of the COTS program. The aim of the project was to create a spacecraft with the possibility of repeated launches and returns. The first version of the project involved the creation of a transport ship, and in the future it was planned to develop a manned modification on its basis. So far, Dragon in the "truck" version has shown some results, while the expected success of the manned version of the ship is constantly shifting in time.

The first demonstration launch of the Dragon transport spacecraft took place at the end of 2010. After all the required improvements, NASA ordered a full-fledged launch of such a device in order to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. On May 25, 2012, Dragon successfully docked with the ISS. Subsequently, several new launches were carried out with the delivery of goods into orbit. The most important stage of the program was the launch on June 3, 2017. For the first time in the program, the re-launch of the repaired ship took place. In December, another spacecraft, already flying to the ISS, went into space. Taking into account all the tests to date, Dragon products have made 15 flights.

In 2014, SpaceX announced the Dragon V2 manned spacecraft. It was claimed that this vehicle, which is an evolution of an existing truck, will be able to deliver up to seven astronauts into orbit or return home. It was also reported that in the future the new ship could be used to fly around the moon, including with tourists on board.

As often happens with SpaceX projects, the Dragon V2 project has been pushed back several times. So, due to delays with the alleged Falcon Heavy carrier, the date of the first tests moved to 2018, and the first manned flight gradually “creeped away” to 2019. Finally, a few weeks ago, the development company announced its intention to abandon the certification of the new "Dragon" for manned flights. In the future, such tasks are supposed to be solved using a reusable BFR system, which has not yet been created.

The Dragon transport vehicle has a total length of 7.2 m with a diameter of 3.66 m. Dry weight is 4.2 tons. It is capable of delivering a payload weighing 3.3 tons to the ISS and returning up to 2.5 tons of cargo. To accommodate certain cargoes, it is proposed to use a sealed compartment with a volume of 11 cubic meters and an unpressurized 14-cubic volume. The unpressurized compartment is dropped during descent and burns up in the atmosphere, while the second cargo volume returns to Earth and parachutes down. To correct the orbit, the device is equipped with 18 Draco engines. The operability of the systems is provided by a pair of solar panels.

When developing a manned version of the "Dragon", certain units of the base transport ship were used. At the same time, the sealed compartment had to be noticeably redesigned to solve new problems. Some other elements of the ship have also changed.

Lockheed Martin Orion

In 2006, NASA and Lockheed Martin agreed to build an advanced reusable spacecraft. The project was named after one of the brightest constellations - Orion. At the turn of the decade, after the completion of part of the work, the leadership of the United States proposed to abandon this project, but after much debate it was saved. The work was continued and to date has led to certain results.

Perspective ship Orion in the representation of the artist. NASA drawing

In accordance with the original concept, the Orion ship was to be used in different missions. With its help, it was supposed to deliver cargo and people to the International Space Station. With the right equipment, he could go to the moon. The possibility of a flight to one of the asteroids or even to Mars was also worked out. Nevertheless, the solution of such problems was attributed to the distant future.

According to the plans of the last decade, the first test launch of the Orion spacecraft was to take place in 2013. In 2014, they planned to launch with astronauts on board. The flight to the Moon could be carried out before the end of the decade. The schedule was subsequently adjusted. The first unmanned flight was postponed to 2014, and the crewed launch to 2017. Lunar missions were postponed to the twenties. By now, crewed flights have also been carried over into the next decade.

On December 5, 2014, the first test launch of Orion took place. The ship with the payload simulator was launched into orbit by a Delta IV launch vehicle. A few hours after the launch, he returned to Earth and splashed down in a given area. No new launches have been made yet. However, Lockheed Martin and NASA specialists did not sit idle. Over the past few years, a number of prototypes have been built for carrying out certain tests in terrestrial conditions.

Just a few weeks ago, construction began on the first Orion spacecraft for manned flight. Its launch is scheduled for next year. The task of launching the ship into orbit will be entrusted to the promising Space Launch System launch vehicle. The completion of the current work will show the real prospects of the entire project.

The Orion project provides for the construction of a ship with a length of about 5 m and a diameter of about 3.3 m. A characteristic feature of this apparatus is a large internal volume. Despite the installation of the necessary equipment and instruments, a little less than 9 cubic meters of free space remains inside the sealed compartment, suitable for installing certain devices, including crew seats. The ship will be able to take on board up to six astronauts or a certain cargo. The total mass of the ship is determined at the level of 25.85 tons.

Suborbital systems

Currently, several interesting programs are being implemented that do not provide for the launch of a payload into Earth's orbit. Promising models of equipment from a number of American companies will be able to carry out only suborbital flights. This technique is supposed to be used for some research or during the development of space tourism. New projects of this kind are not considered in the context of the development of a full-fledged space program, but they are still of some interest.

The SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle under the wing of the White Knight Two carrier aircraft. Photo Virgin Galactic / virgingalactic.com

The SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo projects from Scale Composites and Virgin Galactic propose the construction of a complex consisting of a carrier aircraft and an orbital aircraft. Since 2003, the two types of equipment have performed a significant number of test flights, during which various design features and operating methods have been worked out. It is expected that a SpaceShipTwo-type ship will be able to take on board up to six tourist passengers and lift them to a height of at least 100-150 km, i.e. above the lower boundary of outer space. Takeoff and landing must be from a "traditional" airfield.

Blue Origin has been working on a different version of the suborbital space system since the middle of the last decade. She proposes to carry out such flights using a combination of a launch vehicle and a spacecraft of the type used in other programs. At the same time, both the rocket and the ship must be reusable. The complex was named New Shepard. Since 2011, rockets and ships of a new type have been regularly making test flights. It has already been possible to send the spacecraft to an altitude of more than 110 km, as well as to ensure the safe return of both the ship and the launch vehicle. In the future, the New Shepard system should be one of the innovations in the field of space tourism.

Reusable future

For three decades, since the early eighties of the last century, the main means of delivering people and cargo into orbit in NASA's arsenal was the Space Transportation System / Space Shuttle complex. Due to moral and physical obsolescence, as well as due to the impossibility of obtaining all the desired results, the operation of the Shuttles was discontinued. Since 2011, the US has not had operational reusable spacecraft. Moreover, they do not yet have their own manned spacecraft, as a result of which the astronauts have to fly on foreign technology.

Despite the termination of the operation of the Space Transportation System complex, American astronautics does not abandon the very idea of ​​​​reusable spacecraft. Such a technique is still of great interest and can be used in a wide variety of missions. At the moment, NASA and a number of commercial organizations are developing several promising spacecraft at once, both orbital aircraft and systems with capsules. At the moment, these projects are at different stages and show different successes. In the very near future, no later than the beginning of the twenties, most of the new developments will reach the stage of test or full-fledged flights, which will make it possible to re-examine the situation and draw new conclusions.

According to the websites:
http://nasa.gov/
http://space.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
https://washingtonpost.com/
http://boeing.com/
http://lockheedmartin.com/
http://spacex.com/
http://virgingalactic.com/
http://spacedev.com/

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As you remember, the last launch of the American shuttle was carried out by NASA in 2011. Thus, the United States lost the ability to deliver its astronauts and cargo into outer space. But this did not last long.

A new generation of private orbital and suborbital spacecraft has begun to appear on the horizon. We invite you to take a look at the most promising private spacecraft designed to carry crew and cargo.

Lynx spacecraft

XCOR Aerospace's Lynx is a 2-person suborbital space plane. It is designed to take off and land on a normal airport runway. In addition to paid tourist flights, this space vehicle is also intended for conducting scientific experiments during short-term flights.

After the successful completion of the tests, the Lynx spacecraft will enable tourists who paid $95,000 to rise with a pilot to a height of 100 kilometers above the surface of the globe and admire the views of the Earth on the border between space and atmosphere, as well as experience a state of weightlessness.

SpaceShipTwo is a privately owned suborbital spacecraft that can carry 6 passengers and 2 crew members. The maximum flight altitude of this vessel, according to aircraft designer Bert Rutan, is expected to be 160-320 km. This will make it possible to increase the time spent in weightlessness up to 6 minutes. The price of a ticket to travel on the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft will be approximately $200,000. The first test flight was made in 2010. Its commercial operation will take place after a series of tests.

Armadillo Aerospace, which developed the spacecraft for suborbital flights, was founded by the largest multimillionaire, John Carmack, who is the co-founder of the company that released the popular computer games Quake, Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM. This spacecraft will have room for two passengers. Space Adventures is partnering with Armadillo Aerospace to sell spaceship tickets for $110,000, and it will even be possible to fly around the moon for $100,000,000.

The American company Bigelow Aerospace is developing a private orbital space complex, the launch of which is scheduled for late 2015. This station is intended not only for space tourism, but also for scientific research. Two pilot modules have already been launched in 2006 and 2007. The manufacturing technology of the new station from Bigelow Aerospace is kept in the strictest confidence. It is only known that the surface of the module contains 20 layers, the shell can withstand temperatures from -120 to +120 degrees Celsius, and this station is also able to withstand the impact of a very large cosmic body.

The Stratolaunch rocket-launching aircraft project was co-started by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and space technologist Bert Ruten. The wingspan of this huge aircraft will be as much as 117 meters, and the weight will be about 544 tons. Its purpose is to lift a rocket into space, which weighs 222 tons. The main purpose of the Stratolaunch design is to deliver cargo and satellites into outer space, and it is also planned to send astronauts on this plane. The first operational launch of the aircraft is expected in 2016.

The development of a system for launching astronauts into low orbit was started by the Liberty Launch Vehicle company together with Lockheed Martin and Astrium. An improved Liberty rocket measuring 91 meters will deliver a capsule with up to 7 passengers into orbit. The launch of the first astronaut is scheduled for later this year. If this project is successful, then commercial flights can be operated from 2016.

Blue Origin is a privately held aerospace company created for space tourism by Jeffrey Bezos, founder of Amazon.com. His Space Vehicle will be able to carry about 7 people, and, in addition, cargo. The company is also developing a reusable first stage of the launch vehicle in order to reduce the cost of launch. Regular commercial flights are scheduled for 2016-2018. In addition, the Blue Origin company was engaged in the creation of the New Shepard suborbital spacecraft, designed for a crew of 3 people and cargo. Flight tests of this ship have already been carried out in the state of Texas.

This ship was presented by Sierra Nevada, which received more than $100 million from NASA to support its projects. The Dream Chaser is a small spacecraft capable of carrying 7 astronauts and delivering them to low orbit. This project is based on NASA developments, which are more than 20 years old. The launch of the ship is supposed to be vertical, and the landing is horizontal, like a shuttle. In 2016, the Dream Chaser spacecraft may already be ready for flights.

The CST-100 low-orbit spacecraft is being developed by Boeing. It is able to accommodate 7 astronauts. NASA is actively funding this project. The state has already invested more than $ 100,000 in it. The CST-100 ship will be able to carry out a soft landing in the event of an emergency. The start of unmanned flights is planned already this year, and in 2017 a manned orbital flight with a crew of 2 people will be carried out.

The Dragon is so far the only operational space cargo vehicle in the world that is capable of returning to Earth. It was developed by SpaceX by order of NASA, which has invested more than a billion dollars in this project. The main purpose of the Dragon spacecraft is to deliver and return payloads to the International Space Station. In the future, it is planned to deliver people to the station.

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Cosmonautics in Russia largely inherits the space programs of the Soviet Union. The main governing body of the space industry in Russia is the state corporation Roscosmos.

This organization controls a number of enterprises, as well as scientific associations, the vast majority of which were created during the Soviet era. Among them:

• Mission Control Center. Research division of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (FGUP TsNIIMash). Founded in 1960 and based in the science city called Korolev. The tasks of the MCC include the control and management of spacecraft flights, which can be serviced simultaneously in the amount of up to twenty vehicles. In addition, the MCC conducts calculations and studies aimed at improving the quality of apparatus control and solving some problems in the field of control.
• Star City is a closed urban-type settlement, which was founded in 1961 on the territory of the Shchelkovsky district. However, in 2009, it was separated into a separate district and removed from Shchelkovo. On the territory of 317.8 hectares there are residential buildings for all personnel, employees of Roscosmos and their families, as well as all cosmonauts who are also undergoing space training at the CTC. In 2016, the number of inhabitants of the town is more than 5600.
• Cosmonaut training center named after Yuri Gagarin. Founded in 1960 and located in Star City. Cosmonaut training is provided by a number of simulators, two centrifuges, an aircraft laboratory and a three-story hydro laboratory. The latter makes it possible to create weightlessness conditions similar to those on the ISS. In this case, a full-size layout of the space station is used.
• Baikonur Cosmodrome. It was founded in 1955 on an area of ​​6717 km² near the city of Kazaly, Kazakhstan. It is currently leased by Russia (until 2050) and is the leader in the number of launches - 18 launch vehicles in 2015, while Cape Canaveral is one launch behind, and the Kourou cosmodrome (ESA, France) has 12 launches per year. The maintenance of the cosmodrome includes two amounts: rent - $115 million, maintenance - $1.5 billion.
• The Vostochny cosmodrome began to be created in 2011 in the Amur Region, near the town of Tsiolkovsky. In addition to creating a second Baikonur in Russia, Vostochny is also intended for commercial flights. The spaceport is located near developed railway junctions, highways, and airfields. In addition, due to the favorable location of the Vostochny, the separated parts of the launch vehicles will fall in sparsely populated areas or even in neutral waters. The cost of creating the cosmodrome will be about 300 billion rubles, a third of this amount has been spent in 2016. On April 28, 2016, the first rocket launch took place, which brought three satellites into Earth orbit. The launch of the manned spacecraft is scheduled for 2023.
• Cosmodrome "Plesetsk". Founded in 1957 near the town of Mirny, Arkhangelsk region. It occupies 176,200 hectares. "Plesetsk" is intended for launching strategic defense systems, unmanned scientific and commercial space vehicles. The first launch from the cosmodrome took place on March 17, 1966, when the Vostok-2 launch vehicle was launched, with the Kosmos-112 satellite on board. In 2014, the launch of the newest launch vehicle called Angara took place.

Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome

Chronology of the development of domestic cosmonautics

The development of domestic cosmonautics dates back to 1946, when Experimental Design Bureau No. 1 was founded, the purpose of which is the development of ballistic missiles, launch vehicles, and satellites. In 1956-1957, the work of the Bureau designed the R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile carrier rocket, with the help of which, on October 4, 1957, the first artificial satellite Sputnik-1 was launched into the Earth's orbit. The launch took place at the Tyura-Tam research site, which was designed specifically for this purpose and which would later be named Baikonur.

On November 3, 1957, a second satellite was launched, this time with a living creature on board - a dog named Laika.

Laika is the first living creature to orbit the earth

Since 1958, launches of interplanetary compact stations began to study, within the framework of the program of the same name. On September 12, 1959, for the first time, a human spacecraft ("Luna-2") reached the surface of another cosmic body - the Moon. Unfortunately, "Luna-2" fell to the surface of the Moon at a speed of 12,000 km / h, as a result of which the structure instantly went into a gaseous state. In 1959, Luna-3 took pictures of the far side of the Moon, which allowed the USSR to name most of its landscape elements.

On this day in 1972, US President Richard Nixon approved the NASA program to create reusable transport spacecraft. Our review is dedicated to the most interesting and unusual projects of ships of this class from around the world.

Boeing X-20 Dyna Soar

The first reusable spacecraft was developed in the USA in 1963. The Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar project was a multi-purpose military orbital aircraft. Dyna-Soar was the most innovative space project of the time, but the construction of the first machines was soon stopped and the project was closed.

Spiral

In the mid-60s, the development of the Spiral project began in the USSR in response to the American Dyna-Soar. It was assumed that the orbital aircraft would be accelerated by a passenger airliner to a speed of about Mach 6. In 1969, development was suspended and continued into the mid-70s. Test flights were carried out on the subsonic MiG-105.11, but soon the project was closed completely.

space shuttle

The first shuttle under the legendary Space Shuttle program was launched on April 12, 1981. The design of the machine consisted of three stages: reusable solid rocket boosters, a fuel tank with liquid hydrogen and oxygen, and the orbiter itself. As conceived by the engineers, the shuttles were supposed to deliver cargo between the Earth and orbital stations. Over the entire history of the program, about 1,400 tons of various cargoes have been delivered. The program ended in 2011. A total of 135 launches of five shuttles were made: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavor. Columbia and Challenger died in disasters.

Buran

In response to the American Shuttle, the development of the Energia-Buran program began in the Soviet Union in 1976. The first and only flight under this program was carried out on November 15, 1988 without the participation of pilots. In 1993, the program was officially closed.

Dawn

In 1985-1989, the development of the Zarya reusable spacecraft was carried out in the Soviet Union. In 1987, a draft design of the machine was created. The main distinguishing feature from other ships of that time was the landing mechanics using jet engines. However, due to funding cuts, the project was halted.

Avatar

The Indian Avatar program was announced in May 1998. According to engineers, the machine will provide the cheapest possible transportation of goods into orbit. Avatar will use conventional airfields for takeoff and landing. The construction of the first prototype of the spacecraft is carried out by the private company CIM Technologies.

Skylon

The British project Skylon by Reaction Engines Limited started in 2000. He is currently seeking funding. According to the engineers, the Skylon system ships will significantly reduce the cost of transporting goods to near-Earth orbit. The spacecraft will be able to carry about 200 tons of cargo. In 2013, the British government agreed to provide £60 million to support the project.

Shenlun

The Chinese reusable Shenlun (Spaceplane Dragon) has been under development since the early 2000s. It will be launched from an H-6K bomber. The Dragon made its first suborbital flight on January 8, 2011.

Russia

In 2009, RSC Energia began developing the Rus transport space system. The ship will be engaged in the delivery of goods into orbit and ensure the safety of the airspace. In addition, the module will carry out flights to the Moon. Unmanned tests will begin in 2018.

MAX

The development of the project began in 1980 and attracted the attention of many experts, but its development gained momentum only in 2012. At the moment, shuttles are being developed for takeoff from carrier aircraft M-55 "Geophysics" and ZM-T. The MAKS project involves the launch of tourists and small commercial cargo into orbit.

Nuclear power plant for a Russian spacecraft The problem of manned deep space flights has so far been virtually unsolvable. The liquid propellant rocket engines used at this stage are completely	Interstellar warp drive Modern astronautics, unfortunately, can offer not much more opportunities than half a century ago. This is primarily due to the lack of necessary
Into deep space on ion engines Ion thruster is a type of electric rocket motor. Its working fluid is ionized gas. The principle of operation of the engine is to ionize the gas and its	Gym in space Flights into outer space have become commonplace in our lives. Cosmonauts stay at international orbital stations for several months. However, the usual
Thermonuclear rocket engine - first tests Rocket engines that use the energy of nuclear fission have long been the subject of research by Russian and American scientists. There is nothing surprising in this, because	Ship teleportation: fiction and reality Man has always strived for the stars, but they are extremely far from us. If the flight to them one day takes place, then the spacecraft, on
3d printing technology: rocket engine It is no secret that modern space flights are extremely expensive, and a significant part of the cost is directly the process of manufacturing launch vehicle components. NASA	Russian super heavy rocket For a number of years now, among specialists, the question of what should be the super-heavy rocket of Russia has been seriously discussed. At this stage the question
artificial gravity station In Russia, it was decided to create a private space station, which will have compartments based on artificial gravity. All stages of its construction are planned to be completed	space jump suit Currently, the parachute is perceived as something familiar and self-evident. Of course, the main idea of ​​a parachute is to save a person in
Baikal system The undisputed leader of the space section of the 44th Air and Space Salon in Le Bourget was the technological model of the Russian reusable accelerator (MRU) "Baikal", which is the first	Russian 5th generation spacesuit One of the distinguishing features of the MAKS-2013 aerospace show was the 5th-generation Russian spacesuit Orlan-MKS presented at it. The development belongs to the Zvezda Research and Production Enterprise,
Russian plasma rocket engine will open the way to Mars In 2016, NPO Energomash and NRC Kurchatov Institute announced their intention to implement a project of an electrodeless plasma rocket engine. Given the intention of the leading	Metal glass robot Metallic glass is a relatively new material that combines the structural features of metal and glass. The essence of the technology lies in the formation of an alloy from
EmDrive rocket engine: flight without a propellant News agencies spread a message about the successful testing of EmDrive rocket engine by NASA specialists. A detailed description of the principle of operation of this engine is not given, but it is stated	Launch vehicle "Angara" Back in 1995, Russia approved a project to create a new generation of carriers for launching into space various cargoes with masses
Project MRKS-1 Aerospace industry experts are unanimous in their opinion that the existing launch vehicles as a means of delivery to orbit have practically exhausted themselves. Fundamentally new	Project ”Spiral” In response to the work begun by the United States on the creation of a space plane in the 60s of the XX century, the leadership of the Soviet Union decided to start
Project "Prometheus" The idea of ​​using the energy of the atomic nucleus for space flights was expressed by Tsiolkovsky. However, during his lifetime, no one else imagined	Project MAKS In 1982, even before the flight of the Buran-Energy system, the General Designer of NPO Molniya, Gleb Lozino-Lozinsky, analyzed the prospects for creating aerospace systems. He summarized
Orion ship project Project Orion is an ambitious idea to build a spacecraft that would be driven by nuclear bomb explosions. This idea was developed	The Buran project: the future that has not come The Buran project started in 1976. In the United States, the program of heavy rockets and orbital stations was then closed and the Space Shuttle was hastily created.
Project An-325 Those who understand aircraft will probably want to correct us from the very beginning and say that no An-325 exists and does not exist.	The truth about UFOs An unidentified flying object, often abbreviated as a UFO or UFO, is an unusual, apparent anomaly in the sky that is difficult for an observer to identify. UFO -
Flight into space - space elevator Spaceflight is still extremely expensive, dangerous and destructive to the environment. Rockets with chemical engines do not allow to radically change	Flight to Mars in 2021 A group of young specialists from Russia made a sensational announcement announcing that by 2021 they will be able to provide a manned flight to Mars and Venus.
Notes periodically appear in the press about the unknown development of the Bryansk scientist Vladimir Semenovich Leonov. The author of the Theory of Superunification essentially proposed a project for an antigravitational	Plasma thruster for interplanetary spacecraft As part of the exploration of the Moon, Mars and other objects of interplanetary space, the Russian cosmonautics were tasked with creating spacecraft that use high-quality
Prospects for the Angara rocket The new Russian heavy launch vehicle Angara-A5 launched on December 23 from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. It will put into geostationary orbit a cargo model of a spacecraft with a mass of two	Prospects for aerospace technology Relatively recently, the interests of specialists in the field of aerospace technology began to concentrate on the concept of using an aerospace aircraft (VKS). Some researchers believe that certain

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The Su-35S is a continuation of the deep modernization of the Su-27SM3 aircraft. It will replace the world famous Su-27 fighter and its modifications. Until 2020...

Caspian sea-lake

The largest lake on the planet is the Caspian Sea. Its area is almost 400 square kilometers. About him so far...

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco is one of the most popular cities in the world. Its main attraction is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, thrown across the eponymous...

The fifth generation fighter Su 57 was developed in the OKB. Dry...

Why is Leonov's quantum engine not being implemented?

Notes periodically appear in the press about the unknown development of the Bryansk scientist ...

The history of food of the ancient Slavs

The ancient Slavs, like many peoples of that time, believed that many ...

Motorcycles with cardan drive

It is not enough to buy a motorcycle and ride it, refueling its time...

Folk omens about pearls

First of all, pearl is an incredibly beautiful stone that has been...

How to get electricity from water

Employees of the University of Alberta have found a fundamentally new way to generate electricity from...

Sharks in the Baltic Sea

Somehow it turned out that of the sharks in the Baltic Sea, only ...