The module Nauka for ISS will lose a key function after repair
Multipurpose laboratory Module (MLM) Nauka to the ISS After the end of recovery will lose a key function where it could become the basis of the Russian national space station, said Last news on Wednesday a source in the rocket and space industry.
"in connection With impossibility of purification from the pollution of the regular fuel tanks of the module "Science" decided to replace Their fuel tanks manufactured by NPO Lavochkin. However, the fresh tanks are Not designed for repeated Use, they are disposable. So, the replacement will enable the module After launch into low orbit by the rocket "proton" own way to reach and dock to the ISS, but tanks cannot be refilled with fuel ", - said the head of the Department.
according to His statement, So MLM will be impossible in case of termination of the plant operation in 2024 to separate and make a basic module of the Russian national space station. Using original refillable tanks were given the opportunity to apply It in this quality.
In the same way they did during the construction of the ISS - functional cargo block Zarya, a copy of which is " Science ", has become the core compartment of the ISS, which then docked the other modules of the station. If you create Russian national orbital station MLM was Scheduled to undock from the ISS together With the node and scientific-energy module, And in the future to make the gateway wider and transformable modules.
As explained Last news popularizer of cosmonautics Philip Terekhov, ideas to replace the tanks on the "Science" was offered and the previously - discussed options With cropped tanks, tanks With a scientific-energy module, or a cargo ship " Progress ".
"So what's the idea of tanks "Frigate" is already well-trodden road, " he explained.
According to Terekhova, constructively replacement tanks for fresh according to the calculations is possible, but previous versions wasn't well suited for the size of the previous tanks.
"And in the case of "Progress" and "Fregat" will Vsplyvaet potential problem - the tanks of these devices were Not created for long-term use and refilling. Why does the problem of potential? The fact that you can take tanks "Frigate" and have them check the resource how long they last and that they break. The complexity and amount of work to remake Them in reusable without such tests is unknown. In simple terms, if you're lucky, it will be possible to do quickly, if not - no, " - said the expert.
As explained Last news Executive Director for manned programs of Roskosmos Sergey Krikalev, the question of the creation of new tanks was Not yet decided.
"Discussed As an option, but it exists and the advantages and disadvantages ", he said.
according to His statement, in the case of the creation of new tanks requires modification of the design documentation, daily test module. At the same time the existing pots module is free and can be spend to check Them.
"MLM is Not expected to apply to refuel the ISS. Not intended to refuel MLM, But to do a standalone station, it is necessary to elaborate a lot, " said Krikalev.
Sending to the ISS Russian module Nauka is expected in June 2020, according to a published on the Internet representative office of NASA budget for fiscal year 2020. Since 2013, the Bay is undergoing renovations in the Center Khrunichev. According to the head of the Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, the compartment will leave the Center Khrunichev in the last month of summer of this year and will be transferred to RSC Energia for the pre-test.
Module "Science" was started in 1995 As a ground-based alternate first module of ISS Zarya. In 2004 it was decided to reduce the cost of creating a new cover for the Russian segment of the station and to convert the "double" in full flight Module. Its launch was appointed on 2007, But the deadline to finish the production did Not, every year, is delaying Its launch.
in 2013, After the transfer of the module from the manufacturer- the Khrunichev Center - in rocket-space Corporation "Energy" for the provision of internal equipment, during testing it turned out that the fuel system contains foreign particles. Their presence could result in damage to the propulsion system throughout the ISS when pumping fuel, for this reason it was decided to return the Module to the manufacturer for revision. It was planned that the tanks will be cut internal structure cleaned And then welded the tanks back. Then the Module was expected to send to Baikonur to prepare for launch, and equipping.
Node Module is expected to start in 2021, a science-energy - in 2022. Now made a node Module that is stored in the RSC "Energia" in 2014.
Russian News
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