[News] Orbital Tech. & RSC Energia to launch CSS

[Orbinaut Pete]

Orbital Technologies and RSC Energia to Launch World's First Commercial Space Station.

Private Russian company and lead contractor for the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation collaborate to commercialize space.

Orbital Technologies and Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia) announced today their intentions to build, launch, and operate the world's first Commercial Space Station (CSS). The station will be utilized by private citizens, professional crews as well as corporate researchers interested in conducting their scientific programs onboard the world’s first commercially available human spaceflight platform.

The CEO of Orbital Technologies, Sergey Kostenko said, "I am pleased to announce our intention to provide the global marketplace a commercially available orbital outpost. Once launched and operational, the CSS will provide a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight exploration missions.” Mr. Kostenko continued, “The CSS will be a valuable addition to the global base of orbital assets. We look forward to working with corporate entities, state governments and private individuals from around the world.”

The CSS will be man-tended, with a crew capability of up to seven people. Space-certified elements, modules and technologies of the highest quality and reliability will be used in the construction of the station. The CSS will be serviced by the Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, as well other transportation systems available in the global marketplace. Such arrangements are enabled through the station’s unified docking system that will allow any commercial crew and cargo capability developed in the Unites States, Europe and China.

The CSS’s use will fall under three broad areas:

First, it will be hub for commercial activity, scientific research and development in low Earth orbit. Orbital Technologies has several customers already under contract from different segments of industry and the scientific community, representing such areas as medical research and protein crystallization, materials processing, and the geographic imaging and remote sensing industry. Kostenko commented, “We also have proposals for the implementation of media projects. And, of course, some parties are interested in short duration stays on the station for enjoyment.”

"We consider the Commercial Space Station a very interesting project, encouraging private participation. It will attract private investment for the Russian space industry,” said Vitaly Davydov, Deputy Head of Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation.

Second, because of the design and its orbital inclination, the CSS will serve as an emergency refuge for the ISS crew, should it become necessary.

"There is a possibility for the ISS crew to leave their station for several days. For example, if a required maintenance procedure or a real emergency were to occur, without the return of the ISS crew to Earth, habitants could use the CSS as a safe haven,” said Alexey Krasnov, Head of Manned Spaceflight Department, Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation.

"We are pleased to be the general contractor of this ambitious project. For over a decade, RSC Energia’s engineers have outlined and planned for the production of the CSS. Having 40 years of experience in building orbiting space platforms, RSC Energia has the technical resources and expertise; and is poised to build the CSS in a short period of time,” said V. Lopota, President, RSC Energia.

"Finally, the CSS will be a true gateway to the rest of the solar system. A short stop-over at our station will be the perfect beginning of a manned circumlunar flight. Deep space manned exploration missions planned in the next decade are also welcome to use the CSS as a waypoint and a supply station," continued Mr. Kostenko.

Details about the project are located at www.orbitaltechnologies.ru. Updates will be made regularly. Prospective customers, partners, and suppliers are encouraged to contact Orbital Technologies regarding potential involvement with the Commercial Space Station project.

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SPACE.com: "World's First Commercial Space Station Planned in Russia".

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Check out some of the images of the CSS here.

It's essentially just a copy of the ISS Service Module, with Hybrid ports on the Zenith & Nadir Aft.

While it does look cool, I can't help wondering: Why are we (humanity) spending money building a new space research station? Wasn't the ISS supposed to be the "one stop shop" for all space research? Why not just add a module like this to the ISS?

[orb]

I would move my post about this from "Space tourism coming soon!!!" thread here, since this has a dedicated thread now, but mine was posted earlier, so it would move your post below mine.

[Tommy]

Some of the claims seem to be a bit far fetched, probably produced by the marketing department. They advertise it as "gateway" for lunar flights, but with an inclination of 51.6 degrees a stop-over there is hardly the "perfect beginning" for a lunar flight.

[orb]

RIA Novosti: Russian company plans to create hotel in orbit.


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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

 They advertise it as "gateway" for lunar flights, but with an inclination of 51.6 degrees a stop-over there is hardly the "perfect beginning" for a lunar flight.

This could be a perfect beginning if you launch from 51° North or South.

[Tommy]

Quote:

This could be a perfect beginning if you launch from 51° North or South.

True, but a commercial entity is always about the bottom line, and a lower launch latitude will have a lower cost. Not to mention that lunar transfer that its that far off-plane has a very low margin for error compared to one with little to no RInc. Higher precision also tends to drive costs up.

In short, the only reason you would use a launch latitude that high is if you had no choice. It made sense for cold war Russia's military driven launches, but a commercial venture could likely save money by purchasing or leasing real estate closer to 28 degrees, provided they launch more that a couple flights a year. Several countries would practically give the land away just for the PR value, employment, and income from worker/tourist spending.

Then again, politics often result in poor choices being made for reasons of national pride - so if the Russian government provides any serious funding they may have some say in choosing launch sites.

[Iberville]

Good stuff! More competition for Bigelow about who will be first! How about putting that thing in Moon orbit with SpaceX's Falcon 9 heavy!?
Geez, summer is away, with my vacation time (and my Orbiter time). I can't wait to have more time!

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11440701

I assume the Mayor of Moscow will be the first guest...

N.

[Wishbone]

Which one? Anyway, their ilk just needs being propelled further and further...

[Notebook]

I suppose whichever one hasn't upset Mt Putin, or Mr Medvelev, or Mr...

N.

[Orbinaut Pete]

RIA Novosti: "Space hotel project to be launched after contract is signed - Energia".

The Daily Telegraph: "Russian entrepreneur's plans for space hotel the next step into the final frontier".

The Moscow News: "Space hotel race blasts off".

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 PM ----------

Roscosmos PAO: "Commercial Space Station to be Used for Science".

Commercial space station to be built jointly by RSC-Energia and Orbital Technologies will be used to conduct scientific experiments, Head of Roscosmos Human Spaceflight Directorate Alexey Krasnov told news media.
Krasnov explained that heritage of the space missions showed that any flight should have its scientific justification. According to him, many non-professional space men are eager to carry out their experiments in microgravity. So, the new station will be widely used.
On the other hand, commercial station can become space haven for the ISS crew in case of contingency.
According to Krasnov, space hotel has not been considered at all wrt the single-module commercial outpost.
However the implementation of the project will only start after a contract between Russian state-owned rocket and space corporation Energia and Moscow-based company Orbital Technologies is signed, the Energia head said.
Orbital Technologies on Wednesday announced sky-high plans to launch an orbiting hotel in space by 2015-2016.
"As of today, the company only has an agreement of intent. When we have a firm contract, there will be the terms and engineering design," Vitaly Lopota said.
The project will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Orbital Tehcnologies' CEO Sergei Kostenko said in late September, adding that Russian and U.S. investors have already been found.

[n0mad23]

At least everyone's looking out for the rich!


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44203495...1#.Tk7JUWHQqSo


"You can't get a suntan on the Moon, but I wouldn't mind a holiday there." - Love and Rockets

[RisingFury]

Is this any bigger then a porta-potty?

[Tacolev]

Different hardware heritage but I'd say that thing has as much livable space as any TKS-derived space station module if not more.

[orb]

Parabolic Arc: Russia’s Space Tourism Ventures: Where Things Stand:

Quote:

Meanwhile, Orbital Technologies said last week that it plans to have a commercial space station on orbit in 2016.The private facility would be able to house seven visitors at a time and could be used for space tourism or industrial ventures. It would be serviced by Russian Soyuz and Progress vehicles and possible commercial transports and freighters from the United States.

A key concern is keeping up with the Joneses in the United States, according to Energia Deputy Chief Designer Alexander Derechin.

Russian officials say at least one of four U.S. companies at the forefront of the commercial space industry could develop space taxis by 2016 to take astronauts into low Earth orbit, up to an altitude of about 2,000 km (1,250 miles).

“We don’t want to come late to the market,” Derechin said.

The oddest thing, if press reports are to be believed, is the cost of a stay at the station: $1 million for five days. That doesn’t sound remotely believable unless they’ve developed a Star Trek style transporter that does away with the need for rockets.

That oddity aside, the venture, which includes Energia and Roscosmos as partners, is imminently doable given Russia’s 40 years of experience in operating space stations. However, the key question is the same one that existed when the project was unveiled last September is, “Do they have any money for it?” This is a perpetual issue with many Russian commercial space ventures, which often seem predicated on an “announce it and they will come” approach.

Company officials, then and now, have indicated that they have interested partners, but I couldn’t find any indications in any of the media reports last week of solid commitments. The whole plan also seems to assume that U.S. commercial transports will be available by 2016, freeing up Soyuz and Progress vehicles to service the commercial station. Given Congress’ desire to fund the Space Launch System and Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle at the expense of the Commercial Crew Development program, that goal could be optimistic.

The Russians are planning a six-person spacecraft, tentatively named Rus, to replace Soyuz that would serve both government and private needs. However, the spacecraft and its new launcher, Rus-M, will not be available until around 2018 at the earliest. And that date might be optimistic.

[orb]

RIA Novosti: Future Russian Space Hotel May Serve Pharmaceutical Purposes:

Quote:

An orbiting hotel for space tourists being designed by Russian company Orbital Technologies will also host experiments in the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, the company’s CEO Sergei Kostenko said.

{...}

“We are also working on a project which involves growing proteins in zero-gravity conditions,” Kostenko said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

He said the International Space Station (ISS) was less suitable for this purpose because it has high internal micro gravitation which affects the crystal matrix.

“We are planning to achieve purer results,” the expert said.

Kostenko, who is also the head of the Russian office of the U.S.-based Space Adventures company, said the construction of privately-owned space ships and orbital hotels in the future would cut the price for a space tourist trip from $40-60 million to $15 million.

“We are expecting prices in this range [$15 mln] for the round trip and the stay at a space hotel for 5-7 days,” he said.

{...}