NASA & World Space Exploration...News, Views, Photos & videos
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The plasma thrusters will be mounted on two satellites of Sputnix Company that will be launched into space under the Space PI program in 2022
MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russia has launched the trials of a plasma thruster for retaining the attitude of small space vehicles in orbit, the press office of Sitronics Group told TASS on Thursday.
"The staff of the plasma engine laboratory of the LaPlas Institute within the MEPhI National Research Nuclear University has launched trials jointly with representatives of the Sputnix Company (part of Sitronics Group) of Russia’s first plasma propulsion unit that can be mounted on small space vehicles," the press office noted.
The engine has been named VERA (Volume-Effective Rocket-propulsion Assembly). "The small size and weight of the thrusters that have been developed make it possible to retain a cluster of ten nanosatellites in orbit," the press office added.
With these thrusters mounted on CubeSat 3U satellites weighing no more than 4 kg, these space vehicles will be capable of retaining their orbital position or, upon the completion of their operation, lower the orbit’s altitude, cutting the time of burning up in the dense layers of the atmosphere two-or three-fold. The orbit lowering maneuver after the end of the satellite’s operation will make it possible to cut the time of space junk existence, the press office specified.
These plasma thrusters will be mounted on two satellites of Sputnix Company that will be launched into space under the Space PI program in 2022.
Plasma multi-channel engine for flights in space. Breakthrough of Russian scientists #Ракетостроение and astronautics Roman Barsky Today at 19:00 65 0 The original development of young Russian scientists can be a breakthrough in the field of electric rocket engines. The new plasma engine will overcome the classic shortcomings of modern electric rocket engines - one-vector and low thrust, a small full pulse, the creation of parasitic moments rotating the spacecraft, the requirement for an external magnetic field and much more. The Russian private space company Advance Prolapsion Systems, led by scientists-inventors Andrey Shumeyko and Aslan Pashayev, has developed a protolet sample of the world's first multi-channel plasma engine with the ability to generate thrust vectors in several directions. The use of such engines will reduce the cost and carry out new space missions before launching a spacecraft into orbits with different inclinations using one service spacecraft, as well as precisely approaching any space objects, for example, to clean up space debris in low orbits. "Developing the engine, our goal was to create a device that will be a breakthrough in the field of electric rocket engines and replace outdated systems that have serious drawbacks, including one-vector and low thrust, a small full pulse, the creation of parasitic moments rotating the spacecraft, the requirement for an external magnetic field and much more," comments Aslan Pashayev. "In multi-channel plasma engines, the plasma generation and acceleration stages are completely separated, which makes it possible to create thrust vectors in any direction using a single engine. That is, our customers will not wait for their inclination, but will put their spacecraft on board our service spacecraft and fly the first nearest flight into orbits, "comments Andrey Shumeyko. For 2 years of work, Advance Production Systems managed to test a laboratory sample of a multichannel engine, protect intellectual property, make a protolet sample of the engine, and also, together with its partner - Bauman Moscow State Technical University (which is the alma mater of the founding scientists of the company) - to begin the development of a spacecraft for flight tests scheduled for 2023. The company plans to use a multi-channel plasma engine for its own space transport system.
NASA announced the extension of ISS operations until 2030:
This is interesting for two reasons.
The first is the budget impact. The ISS has been expensive to operate. It is roughly $4 billion per year: roughly 1/6th of NASA's current budget. That alone would pay for a couple SLS, allowing for two moon missions per year, or a large number of FalconHeavy rockets. In addition, this cuts the possibility of a NASA Mars mission in the 2030s to almost zero unless there is a major plus up. Given Congress' reaction to adding the money for the lunar landers, I doubt that will happen.
The second reason is the increasing issues between America and Russia. The two have kept their space relationship as far as the ISS, etc. in great shape, whatever else may be happening. However, within the last year or two, even the ISS/manned space flight cooperation has become more and more strained. There are several reasons. Russia is really unhappy with SpaceX (challenging their revenue through access to ISS and the launch customers shifting more to SpaceX than the Soyuz), US sanctions, the situation in Ukraine, and US reactions to anything Russian these days. The US is really unhappy with the asat test, the stupid accusation the American astronaut drilled a hole in the Soyuz capsule[1], and the reverse of the above save spacex. There's a WaPo article, but it is more "ooooo, Russia bad" rather than actually helpful in how cooperation has deteriorated.
Additionally, there is the issue the Russians themselves see their space industry rotting from within:
What will the Russian space industry look like in 2030?
Finally, Russia is signally its preference to shift cooperation in space to China. The two have signed an agreement on lunar and other space exploration. Cynical me wonders if extended the ISS to 2030 is a way to soak up Russian space funds and prevent the Russians from going to the Moon with the Chinese.
some bits about ISS:
60% of the ISS costs have been paid for by the US and 8% by Russia through 2010.
224 astronauts/cosmonauts visited ISS through august of last year. 153 were American. 50 were Russian. This is 68% and 33% respectively.
1. Really? I mean the ISS is not vast and no one would have heard the drilling or caught her? Space capsules are far tougher than sheet metal.
This is interesting for two reasons.
The first is the budget impact. The ISS has been expensive to operate. It is roughly $4 billion per year: roughly 1/6th of NASA's current budget. That alone would pay for a couple SLS, allowing for two moon missions per year, or a large number of FalconHeavy rockets. In addition, this cuts the possibility of a NASA Mars mission in the 2030s to almost zero unless there is a major plus up. Given Congress' reaction to adding the money for the lunar landers, I doubt that will happen.
The second reason is the increasing issues between America and Russia. The two have kept their space relationship as far as the ISS, etc. in great shape, whatever else may be happening. However, within the last year or two, even the ISS/manned space flight cooperation has become more and more strained. There are several reasons. Russia is really unhappy with SpaceX (challenging their revenue through access to ISS and the launch customers shifting more to SpaceX than the Soyuz), US sanctions, the situation in Ukraine, and US reactions to anything Russian these days. The US is really unhappy with the asat test, the stupid accusation the American astronaut drilled a hole in the Soyuz capsule[1], and the reverse of the above save spacex. There's a WaPo article, but it is more "ooooo, Russia bad" rather than actually helpful in how cooperation has deteriorated.
Additionally, there is the issue the Russians themselves see their space industry rotting from within:
NASA & World Space Exploration...News, Views, Photos & videos
I don't care what country this came from, that's an awesome view. I am sure China will have shots like this soon. http://spaceref.com/mars/mars-curiosity-sol-3319-shoot-the-gap.html
www.sinodefenceforum.com
What will the Russian space industry look like in 2030?
Finally, Russia is signally its preference to shift cooperation in space to China. The two have signed an agreement on lunar and other space exploration. Cynical me wonders if extended the ISS to 2030 is a way to soak up Russian space funds and prevent the Russians from going to the Moon with the Chinese.
some bits about ISS:
60% of the ISS costs have been paid for by the US and 8% by Russia through 2010.
224 astronauts/cosmonauts visited ISS through august of last year. 153 were American. 50 were Russian. This is 68% and 33% respectively.
1. Really? I mean the ISS is not vast and no one would have heard the drilling or caught her? Space capsules are far tougher than sheet metal.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
More likely Roscosmos are just trying to Scapegoat. Blame their own QC problems on a foreign astronaut.
That does appear to be true.
So an American astronaut is going to go into the Russian segment, remove the toilet, drill a hole and then replace the toilet while in orbit...and not get caught while doing it?