Can A New Spaceship Save Russia?

It looks as if the nation that helped bring us to the stars (via Sputnik) is now seeking to build a spaceship that can not only take them beyond our terrestrial sky, but towards the Moon as well.

(MSNBC) The Russian space agency on Tuesday ordered design work to start for a next-generation spaceship capable of flying missions to the moon, setting the ground for a potential new space race with the United States.

The space agency granted the state-controlled RKK Energiya company the $23 million contract for the initial work on a new, reusable craft to replace the 40-year-old Soyuz spacecraft.

With the world wide recession leaving none unscathed (even the NewSpace industry), it may be difficult for Russia to compete against NASA, although an alliance with China may help them close the gap.

Chinese-Russian Probe To Explore Red Planet, Radiation And Phobos

After establishing an alliance between each other, it looks as if the two major eastern space powers will be exploring "all things Mars" by sending a probe to analyze not only the Martian weather, but its asteroid moon as well.

(Mars Daily) The first joint Chinese-Russian mission to Mars is set to take off in October and reach the red planet in August 2010, an exploration project designer said.

A Russian Zenit rocket will launch a Chinese Yinghuo-1 satellite and a Russian Phobos-Grunt unmanned lander, Chen Changya, chief designer of the China-Russia Mars exploration project, told Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po newspaper.

Phobos-Grunt is expected to study Mars from orbit, including its atmosphere and dust storms, plasma and radiation, before landing on Phobos, one of Mars' two small moons.

Phobos is one of the prime locations in our solar system, and any nation (or group of nations) that is able to secure this tiny satellite will probably end up dominating the Martian planet as a future space power.

Political ambitions aside, the Phobos-Grunt should help provide more information regarding how much radiation impacts the red planet, as that could determine just how safe living on Mars may be.

No Magnetic Field Equals Insane Animals And Humans?

(Hat Tip: Space Travel, Image via EZ2Bsaved.com)

Often thought as the best way to keep radiation from "soaking the bones," it looks as if portable magnetic fields may not only help keep us radiation free, but sane as well.

(RIA Novosti) The scientists constructed a special unit where the terrestrial magnetic field was reduced to a little as one-thousandth of its usual strength. Twelve rats were put into the "magnet-free chamber" for 25 days, and then for another 10 days, while another 12 rats remained in normal conditions.

Both groups were monitored 24 hours a day. Krivova said the first thing researchers observed was increased aggression among rats living under the reduced magnetic field. [...]

The rats were also observed to have memory failures. The group experiencing a small magnetic field forgot their surroundings and began inspecting the already known environment once again.

Even though humans may be able to "train themselves" to deal with lower levels of magnetism (or none at all), our animal friends may be unable to cope with the loss (not to mention the insanity).

Unless our species can find some way of creating global magnetic fields, our options of conquering the solar system en masse will be severely limited towards Mercury and Ganymede (not to mention a few "safe" regions of both Mars and the Moon).

NASA To Embrace NewSpace Over Russia

(Hat Tip: Space Transport News)

After President Bush signed the Soyuz waiver allowing NASA to rely on Russia to transport astronauts to the International Space Station, it looks as if the space agency is seriously considering courting the private sector (aka NewSpace) at Russia's expense.

(Space.com) NASA has no intention of paying Russia to help deliver supplies to the international space station (ISS) beyond 2011 despite winning congressional and presidential approval to do so.

"NASA's policy has not changed," NASA spokesman David Steitz said Oct. 2. "NASA will rely on U.S. commercial cargo services to resupply ISS following retirement of the shuttle, and does not intend to purchase Progress cargo services after 2011."

NASA probably decided to change its tune after SpaceX's successful launch of their Falcon rocket.

Even though SpaceX is still 1 in 4 (as their first three rockets failed), the US government is probably more willing to risk their future on an upcoming space company rather than a proven, yet potentially dangerous space power.

Note: Russia will probably not enjoy losing a large customer such as NASA, and this latest move may help forge an alliance between the former USSR and China (who recently completed their first space walk).

Russia And China: A Future Alliance In The Making?

After declaring their support for Cuba's space center, the former Soviet Union is now planning on helping China conduct its first space walk.

(RIA Novosti) Russian experts will have a role in overseeing the upcoming mission of Chinese astronauts, which will include China's first spacewalk, a spokesman for country's manned space program said Wednesday.

The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft with three astronauts on board is scheduled to launch Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province, in the northwest of China. [...]

"We are also grateful to Russia for its active cooperation in the training of astronauts," the spokesman said, adding that good opportunities were opening up for further partnership.

With Russia facing isolation from NASA over its conflict with Georgia, the former Soviet empire is probably attempting to strengthen its position as a space power, while at the same time ensuring that it has a dedicated partner to help take them beyond the sky.

China is probably warming up to the idea (as going alone can be rough), as an agreement between the two could help form a counterweight against America's, who has been less than thrilled about partnering with the Asian giant ever since the Anti-Satellite Test (aka ASAT).

Either way, this alliance could help spark a future space cold war, which may ultimately motivate our species to expand off world (note: provided we do not destroy this one of course).

The Space Cold War Has Begun: Russia To Assist Cuba

With Congressional leaders urging the President to extend the shuttle in order to avoid dependence upon Russia, the former USSR is planing on assisting Cuba in helping the country build its own space center.

(MSNBC) Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space center, Russia's space agency chief said on Wednesday after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Itar-Tass news agency reported. [...]

"We have held preliminary discussions about the possibility of creating a space center in Cuba with our help," the chief of Russia's Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass in Caracas.

"With our Cuban colleagues, we discussed the possibilities of joint use of space equipment...and the joint use of space communications systems," Perminov was quoted as saying.

While it will be interesting to see whether or not Russia decides to arm Cuba as they did in the past (in response to the US arming Poland), this may spark a renewed interest in Congress to maintain its status as a space power.

This could easily translate in not only more funds for NASA, but potentially a greater role for NewSpace as well.

With Russia hungry to establish its former glory (and China not too far behind them), we could see a global space race pitting the east against the west, which may ultimately translate into lunar colonies down the road (as mining helium-3 may require a human presence to keep away squatters).

McCain: Dear Bush, We Really Need The Space Shuttle

After the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia, Senator McCain is asking the President to delay the space shuttle retirement in order to help America avoid dependence upon Russia during "the gap."

(Space.com) McCain, joined by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and David Vitter (R-La.), also cited Russia's recent military incursion into neighboring Georgia earlier this month as evidence that Russia's continued cooperation on the international space station program should not be taken for granted.

Once the space shuttle is retired, Russia stands to possess the only means of transporting astronauts to and from the space station until the shuttle's successor – the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and Ares 1 launcher – comes on line around 2015. [...]

McCain, Hutchison and Vitter, in their letter to Bush, wrote that Russia's actions "raised new questions about the wisdom of providing" the exemption the White House seeks from a provision in the Iran, North Korea, Syria Non-proliferation Act barring so-called extraordinary payments to the Russian space program so long as Russia continues to help Iran acquire missiles and other advanced weapons.

While Senator McCain's rival for the White House, Senator Obama has proposed an alternative solution (basically giving NASA an extra $2 billion), neither solution will help NASA as the agency lacks the funds to continue shuttle flights and finish the constellation program.

NASA is (understandably) tired of circling the globe while dreaming of the stars beyond our home world.

With firm plans to establish a lunar base (which will hopefully turn into a lunar colony), it would be better for NASA to allow the private sector (aka NewSpace) to replace Russia in ferrying astronauts, thus freeing up NASA to help humanity establish settlements off world.

Russia's Loss May Be NewSpace's Gain (NASA)

With the recent crisis in Georgia (note: the country) slowly coming to a close (hat tip: Hot Air), many are wondering how this latest conflict will affect NASA's relationship with Russia--especially regarding transportation of US astronauts towards the International Space Station (aka ISS).

While only time will tell whether or not Russia reaches out towards its former allies, one thing is clear--NASA may no longer be able to rely upon the international community to send its "boys and girls" beyond the sky, leaving them with no "dedicated" access towards the ISS (and beyond) during the gap.

Even though some may see this new dilemma as a crisis, this may perhaps be a golden opportunity for the private space sector (aka NewSpace) to prove their worth towards NASA--not to mention the public as well (hat tip: Space Transport News).

(Guardian.co.uk) SpaceX's offices are in the aptly named Rocket Drive, close to Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles. And it has lofty ambitions. Nasa's Space Shuttle is due to be retired in 2010, when Musk's company hopes to take its place as the leading provider of launches.

SpaceX won an award of $278m from Nasa for three demonstration flights of its Falcon 9 rocket, which will carry the Dragon spacecraft - a vehicle that will be able to transport cargo or seven crew members. This will culminate with a dock and delivery and return of cargo with the International Space Station.

If that is successfully completed, there will be an option of similar value for passenger launches to and from the space station. This, coupled with commercially booked missions into 2011, means that SpaceX is profitable, it says - even though it has yet to get a rocket into orbit.

If SpaceX (as well as others) are successful, humanity may witness a new era of space exploration where the private sector begins to replace the government as the main transport service beyond the heavens, reducing the overall cost of launching material into space.

While this may mean that expensive projects like the ISS will be replaced by better, less expensive alternatives, it could also help transform NASA into a regulatory agency (similar to the FAA), instead of having to "bend the metal" themselves.

Russia Returning To Space Tourism With Secret Partner?

After previously deciding that space tourism was not for them, Russia has decided to partner with an unknown (or rather secret) American investor to help it construct a Soyuz spacecraft dedicated towards taking humans beyond the sky--and "into the black."

(Space Travel) The Russian space agency has sealed a deal with a private investor to build a Soyuz spacecraft specially for tourist hire and operational in 2011, a statement said Wednesday.

"We have concluded an agreement with an investor to begin financing such a Soyuz vessel with an anticipated launch date of 2011," the Roskosmos website stated.

The craft, piloted by a professional astronaut, is designed to carry two so-called space adventurers.

This is probably a smart move for Russia, as they can not depend afford to depend upon the US for financial security--especially with the US Congress getting nervous about NASA's plan to outsource to the Russians for human spaceflight.

Even though Russia is responsible for pioneering the space tourism industry (by partnering with Space Adventures), the former world power does not intend to merely launch people into space forever. Russia intends upon colonizing the Moon in the not-to-distant future, along with China and (hopefully) NASA as well.

(Image: Soyuz Spacecraft, via Wikipedia)

Russia: Oxygen Plus Argon Equals Future Martian Air?

While NASA plans on finding ways for us to "recycle our air," Russia is trying to find the perfect balance for a breathable atmosphere on board a future Martian spacecraft.

(Universe Today) Volunteers in Russia are testing the ability of humans to breathe argon-enriched air, as part of a research program that simulates a manned trip to Mars. Researchers want to know if humans can survive breathing air similar to that found on Mars. Of the experiment one Russian scientist said, "Our experiments show that argon combined with the right portion of oxygen is safe for humans. I tested it on myself and I'm OK, and volunteers are also doing fine."

Despite the fact that argon is apart of the Martian atmosphere, some may wonder why the scientists chose that over nitrogen, since their is more nitrogen than argon on the red planet.

The answer lies with the fact that argon is a lot safer than nitrogen, as the latter has the potential to bond with oxygen (via static heat), which can form Nitric Oxide--or even worse, Nitrogen Dioxide), which can be fetal towards humans.

Argon on the other hand is not only non-toxic, but it can resist bonding with other elements (as it is more stable) giving future astronauts fewer headaches to worry about.

This makes Argon the perfect "filler gas" (as pure oxygen is too dangerous), and this experiment may make it possible for humans to one day visit, and perhaps live on Mars.

Senate Uneasy About NASA Outsourcing To Russians

With the space shuttle retirement on the horizon, NASA has shifted its focus on not only returning to the Moon, but also on delegating transportation to and from the International Space Station (or ISS) to the Russians.

Unfortunately it seems that many Senators are not as comfortable with working with their former foe, especially with tensions heating up between the US and the former Soviet Union.

(Government Executive) Senate Commerce Space Subcommittee Chairman Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Sen. David Vitter, R-La., trained their sights on what they portrayed as a high-risk reliance on a partner whose ambitions might run counter to U.S. foreign policy goals. [...]

In the meantime, Nelson said, "there is a realistic political monkey wrench" that could complicate any deal. He said current law forbids any U.S. contract payments to Russia if it continues to support the Iranian nuclear development program, unless the White House requests a waiver and Congress grants it.

Even though NASA is confident in its relationship with the Russians, they need to develop a "plan B" just in case America chooses not to issue future waivers (which would hurt NASA, or at least cripple the ISS).

While NASA has made serious attempts at courting the private sector (especially SpaceX), they may need to take more aggressive measures if they want to convince congress of their future relevance.

Russia Backing Out Of Space Tourism?

Despite pioneering the "newspace" movement (with the help of Space Adventures), it looks as if the nation responsible for getting us into space has decided to push space tourism to the wayside--at least for now.

(Physorg.com) "It has to do with international agreements that stipulate that from 2009 the (ISS) crew must be made up of six people if Japanese and European scientific modules are launched," said Roskosmos chief Anatoly Perminov.

"In this case there will be no room for space tourists," Perminov told a news conference, adding that space tourism making use of Russian vessels and the ISS would therefore be "rather problematic".

"I'm afraid that from 2009, tourism as we see it today may be discontinued," he said.

With the space shuttle scheduled to retire early, many nations are looking towards Russia to transport their astronauts to and from the International Space Station (or ISS), hence the reason for placing space tourism on the back burner.

While this may be a setback for Space Adventures (which currently is the only company ferrying passengers), hopefully Bigelow Aerospace can provide them with more options in the future (not to mention Galactic Suite).

Russia Partners With India For Lunar Research

It looks as if the worlds first space power has decided to team up with India in order to jointly research Earth's nearest neighbor.

(Earth Times) Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) and India's Department of Space have signed a joint lunar research and exploration agreement, the Russian agency said Monday. [...]

Georgy Polishchuk, general director of Russia's Lavochkin Design Bureau, said Russia would launch an unmanned mission to the Moon, Luna-Glob, in 2010. The second mission, which will include putting a new-generation 400-kg Lunokhod unmanned rover on the Moon, will start in 2011.

'The first mission will be solely Russian, but the second will be carried out in conjunction with India,' Polishchuk said.

While the partnership between the two may look odd to some, a partnership between the two powers would greatly benefit both nations.

Russia has the experience and passion for the moon, but may be lacking cash to actually get there. India has the passion and money to orbit lunar side, but may prefer receiving some "loose mentorship" before heading off on their own.

Russia has already initiated partnerships with Europe, as well as China in its quest to regain its former glory as a space power.

Note: Isn't it ironic how Russia is spurring international space cooperation while NASA is fostering a "go it alone" approach?

Space Babies: Cockroaches Conceived In Space

(Image Credit: Wm Jas via Flickr)

While breeding in space has been a topic with some (obvious) controversy associated with it, a few Russian scientists are examining what happens to animals that are conceived among the cosmos.

(Space Fellowship) Though the newborn creatures already eat and drink respectively well, microgravity conditions may have had an impact on the natural darkening of their chitinous carapace, a part of a cockroach's exoskeleton.

"Cockroaches are born with a transparent carapace, which gradually turns into brown, and the space cockroaches went darker earlier than usual," the scientist explained, adding that final conclusions would only be able to drawn only after the second female had given birth.

While breeding cockroaches is a start, hopefully scientists will be able to find a higher animal, preferable a mammal (such as a mouse or pig) and allow the animal to not only be conceived in space, but perhaps birthed there as well.

Doing so is the only way to determine whether or not humanity will be able to raise their kids off world, a critical item if we are ever going to inhabit other moons and planets.

Russian Banks May Finance The "Next Great Leap"

In an ironic twist of fate, it seems that the nation that first brought humanity to the stars is more "capitalistic" than the first one to put a man on the moon.

With more individuals considering space tourism as a worthwhile activity, it looks as if a Russian banks will consider loaning the necessary cash for those who can least afford.

(Interfax-AVN) Russian banks could offer low- interest loans to people wishing to go into space as tourists, Roman Popov, the president of the First Russian-Czech Bank, told journalists on Tuesday.

"If space tourism develops, we are prepared to combine efforts of three or more banks to issue five-year low-interest loans to a future space tourist," Popov said at a press conference dealing with prospects of space exploration[.]

This is probably a smart move by Russia, who has been heavily embracing the capitalistic version of the final frontier despite their current leanings towards "all things big brother."

If the cost of travel towards space (and future space hotels) becomes somewhat affordable, they may find plenty of eager customers in North America as well as Europe.

Russia Launches Malaysia's First Astronaut In Space

(Image Credit: CNN)


It is a proud day for Malaysians everywhere, as they are for the first time seeing one of their own journey beyond the sky in order to orbit the heavens above.

(Earth Times) Malaysia's first astronaut created national history when he blasted off on board a Russian rocket into space Wednesday, marking a first for the nation which tuned in to watch the historic event live on television. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor took off for the International Space Station (ISS) on board a Soyuz-FG rocket, adorned with the Malaysian flag, from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. [...]

At the ISS, Sheikh Muszaphar is to experiment with microbes of tropical diseases and with proteins for a potential HIV vaccine, and study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on cancer cells and human genes.

Malaysia is located in the Pacific below Vietnam and Thailand and right above Indonesia. Although predominantly Muslim, Malaysia seems to have a more "liberal" view than its Islamic neighbors.

Their entrance into the space arena should help bring about more diversity among the stars, as well as an opportunity to encourage its neighbors to claim their stake in our solar system.

Russia, NASA Team Up In Quest For Space Water

The head of both Russia and America's space agencies signed an agreement to cooperate as they search both the Moon an Mars in the quest for "liquid gold."

(USA Today) The agreements signed by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Russian Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov deal with putting Russian instruments on board NASA probes that would be sent to the moon and Mars.

"These two projects demonstrate the commitment by our countries to continue to look for opportunities where it's mutually beneficial to cooperate," Griffin said. "When these opportunities happen it's our intent to work together to bring them to fruition."

This partnership should help out both NASA and Russia, as it will lessen the cost of finding the best locations for a moon base, as any habitation near water is considered prime real estate.

This could also help relieve some of the space war rhetoric, as the last thing humanity needs is a cold war in space.

Russia And Europe To Team Up For Manned Mars, Moon Mission

With the United States determined to maintain its place in the cosmos, it seems that Russia has struck a unique partnership with Europe that may enable both of them to secure their place among the heavens.

(RIA Novosti) The Russian and European space agencies will develop a manned transport spaceship for flights to the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars, the head of the Russian agency said Tuesday.

"We agreed today with Jean-Jacques Dordain, the head of the European Space Agency, to form a working group to deal with developing a piloted transport system to fly to the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars," Anatoly Perminov said after talks with Dordain on the sidelines of the MAKS-2007 air show in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.

While a partnership between the two may strike some as strange, both Russia and Europe could potentially benefit from relying on each others strengths. Russia currently lacks the funds for a lunar landing while Europe lacks the expertise.

Russia previously was attempting to partner with NASA for a lunar mission, although NASA was not too thrilled with that idea and seems to have chosen England instead.

Hopefully the nation that originally brought humanity to the cosmos is able to regain is "solar honor," as it would be embarrassing for future historians to refer to Russia as a "former space power."

NASA Rejects Lunar Partnership With Russia

Despite having previously pioneered the journey to the final frontier, Russia it seems is unable to complete that journey towards the moon. They were previously looking towards NASA to help them out, although NASA is showing little interest in partnering with their former rivals.

(International Herald Tribune) The chief of Russia's space agency said that the United States has rejected a proposal by Moscow to explore the moon jointly, a Russian news agency reported. [...]

But Roscosmos chief Anatoly Perminov was quoted by the Interfax news agency Sunday as saying that the United States had rebuffed the offer.

"We are ready to cooperate but for some reasons the United States has announced that it will carry out the program itself," he was quoted as saying.

Despite the fact that NASA is expressing interest in partnering with England for a lunar visitation, they may be reluctant to pursue a partnership with Russia for political reasons. Russia has not been very friendly towards freedom of speech lately, although NASA could simply be rebuffing the Russians due to a potential lack of talent.

Update (5/1): NASA is claiming that it did not rebuff Russia's offer (as there was no official offer of help) while conspiracy theories are developing on why NASA is avoiding Russia (Hat Tip: NASA Watch)

Russia To Moon: We Will "Industrialize" You

(Image Credit: Anatoly Zak / RussianSpaceWeb.com)

The next decade or so will either spell a regeneration of Russian space technology or a historical note of missed opportunity. With the space shuttle about to retire in several years, Russia will be in the spot light of history, if they can get over their stage fright that is.

Either way, Russia is determined to regain its space honor and visit the moon for the first time. And their aim is not to simply copy their American "comrades," but to transform our lunar neighbor into something a bit more productive.

(Reuters) "It is time to think about industrial development of the moon. We are sometimes criticized for making such suggestions too early," Sevastianov was quoted as saying in an interview released on Wednesday.

But it is time to do this given the limits to natural reserves on Earth and the pace of civilization's progress. Nor can we dismiss the idea of outsourcing harmful industries into space." [...]

"We can start flying to the moon using the Soyuz ships and those technologies that we already have. As for industrial development, that will be with the new technologies that the Kliper system will give us."

Despite pioneering the final frontier publicly and privately (via Space Adventures) Russia realizes that its moment in history is approaching once again, and that a missed opportunity here could affect its place in solar history for the next century.

Russia's Kliper (view: interactive) could help breathe some life back into its space program, which has not had much success after the Americans beat them to the moon during the Apollo era. Hopefully our Russian friends can return not only to the heavens but visit the moon itself, as it would be fairly boring having only the Chinese to compete against.

Update (4/17): I was informed that the original image posted above was owned in fact by the Russian Space Web and not Luniversalis News.

I am in contact with the owners to see if I can still use this image in the post (with proper credits), although if they desire the image will be removed at their request. ~Darnell

Update (4/17): Anatoly Zak has graciously allowed me to use the image, with proper credit given (of course). Thanks Anatoly!