News Roscosmos News

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MSNBC.com: "Russia's space chief taken to hospital due to 'exhaustion'"

More about the cause of the 'exhaustion':

Parabolic Arc: Roscosmos Drama: The General, the Model and the Bottle:

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Roscosmos subsequently elaborated upon the story, saying that the Roscosmos leader was so exhausted from trying to rescue the launch accident prone space agency that he fell on a flight stairs and hit his head on its marble railing. Now it seems that wasn’t exactly true, either.

Popovkin did indeed hit his head on something, but it wasn’t a marble railing. Reportedly, Popovkin got into a fight with the man over a woman at a party. The dispute escalated and the man smashed a bottle over the head of the Russian space chief.

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Parabolic Arc: Roscosmos Extends Call for Cosmonauts as Few Apply:

Roscosmos has decided to extend its first open competition for new cosmonauts to April 30 after only 151 candidates applied, the space agency’s press service reports. The deadline for applications was originally March 15.

The result is a marked contrast to NASA’s recent astronaut application process, which was completed in late January. The space agency received 6,372 applications, the second highest in history and about double the normal number for recruitment.

The decision to extend the Roscosmos recruitment drive was reached during a meeting on Thursday of the Interagency Commission (IAC) that is overseeing the selection process. Chairman of the Bid Evaluation Committee O. Kotova noted a recent surge in applications as the deadline approached.

“Practice shows that it takes a considerable amount of time for applicants to collect the required documents, to meet certain terms and conditions of the competition. We assume that the number of people willing to devote himself to space activities has increased,” Kotova said.

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Parabolic Arc: Roscosmos, Skolkovo Look to Solve Russia’s Space Worker Shortage:

MOSCOW (Skolkovo PR) — On March 22-23, the Skolkovo Fund, the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), and JSC “Scientific and Production Corporation (NPC) “REKOD” will hold the first all-Russian scientific-practical conference titled, “Problems Involving the Capacity of Higher Educational Institutions for Training and Advanced Training in the Use of Space Activities, and Ensuring the Competitiveness of Domestic Space Products and Services.”

Opening the conference will be: the head of Russian Federal Space Agency, Vladimir Popovkin; chief executive of a cluster of space technology and telecommunications, Sergey Zhukov; as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the Russian Academy of Sciences. The event will be attended by representatives from leading universities, enterprises, rocket and space industries and regions of Russia.

Conference participants pose a major goal – to combine efforts and resources enterprise space industry, leading universities and regions of the country for the establishment and effective use of domestic competitive products, services and technologies of space industry to meet the needs of end users. In addition, they will try to develop a common approach to training and development professionals in the use of space activities.

“The conference is dedicated not just space education but also specific training areas in the use of space activities,” said Dmitri Payson, the development director of a cluster of space technology and telecommunications of the Skolkovo Fund.

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RIA Novosti: Investigators Check GLONASS Spending Amid Space Row:

Investigators have been brought in to look into alleged misuse of federal funding, following a high-profile public row between the Russian space agency and a manufacturing subsidiary, Izvestia daily reported on Thursday.

The Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has accused Russian Space Systems (RSS) of jacking up the costs of the Glonass global navigation system program and diverting cash “saved.”

The controversy came to a point where Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the defense industry, had to step in, ordering the two parties to stop throwing mud at each other in public, which he said could “seriously harm the Russian space industry.”

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Parabolic Arc: Skolkovo to Play Role in New Russian Space Policy:

Skolkovo PR – In the Russian government last week introduced a draft “Strategy for the development of space activities before 2030,” prepared by the Russian Space Agency with participation of a number of enterprises and organizations of missile and space industry and related industries. Representatives of the Cluster Space Technology and Telecommunications Fund “Skolkovo” noted with satisfaction that the developers have considered the document a number of suggestions of the experts of the Fund, aimed at the development of innovative activity in space activities.

First of all, the decision on the reorganization of the industry through the formation of four or five competing vertically integrated structures and instrument of the corporation. Creating the conditions for internal competition of vertically integrated structures can be an important step in the development of the market environment and contribute to the protection of the domestic market space vehicles.

The strategy also provides for the development of technology transfer and support to small and medium enterprises working in the field of space activities.

“The proposals presented by the Foundation Roskosmos” Skolkovo “, where these activities are among our top priorities” said director of development of the cluster space, doctor of economic sciences Dmitri Payson. “Unlike other areas of priority development, such as information and biomedical technology in our industry, we are dealing with the markets, which in Russia is still only emerging. Therefore, you should not only support the innovators, offering their projects for the implementation of the “Skolkovo”, but also to take part in shaping the actual market space products and services.”

One of the key proposals in the draft strategy is the creation of a specialized body under the Russian President – Council of the Americas.

“We have two decades, ever since the Government of the working group to develop the Russian Space Agency, talking about the need for such a body responsible for coordinating the interests and development of national space policy,” reminded the Executive Director of the Foundation of the cluster space Skolkovo Sergei Zhukov.

One of the key proposals in the draft strategy is the creation of a specialized body under the Russian President – Council of the Americas.

“We have two decades, ever since the Government of the working group to develop the Russian Space Agency, talking about the need for such a body responsible for coordinating the interests and development of national space policy,” reminded the Executive Director of the Foundation of the cluster space Skolkovo Sergei Zhukov.

At the highest level need to ensure that the setting of objectives and balance the interests of strategic sectors of the economy involved in solving the problems of space activities, for example, rocket and space industry and the telecommunications industry.

“We need a regulatory and legal support of the Russian private business in key markets products and services, satellite navigation and remote sensing. I think politically important to the national space policy announced the president of Russia. Hopefully, this time, so be it – the first time in the history of the state ” he said.

According to Zhukov, the development of a proposal by the leading experts of outer cluster Fund. Among them Dmitri Payson, Alexander Krylov, Director, Center for Space Communications “Skolkovo” FSUE “Satellite Communications”, Ivan Moiseyev, scientific director of the Space Policy Institute and others.

“Maybe the project is not without flaws, but so far it is only a draft. We look forward to fruitful cooperation with the Russian Space Agency, other government agencies, business community and public space in the finalization and implementation presented in the government document- underlined the head space of the cluster Skolkovo.” For our part, we are ready to provide a discussion platform Friends Club of the cluster, which is conducting in partnership with the Moscow club space, as early as next week.”

Chertok, who believed in the great future of the Russian space: “… large nation-wide problem should be resolved by the State and under its strict control. For almost fifty years of our missile and space industry has gained such a potential that is still able to once again become a leader. ” And the developed space strategy – one of the steps to the new development.

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Parabolic Arc: Russia’s Ambitious Space Plan Overshadowed by Controversies

 

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RIA Novosti: Russia to Build Nuclear Space Engine by 2017:

A Russian Megawatt-class nuclear propulsion system for long-range manned spacecraft must be ready by 2017, Skolkovo Foundation's Nuclear Cluster head Denis Kovalevich said on Wednesday.

“At present we are testing several types of fuel and later we will start drafting the design,” Kovalevich said. “The first parts [of the nuclear engine] should be built in 2013, and the engine is expected to be ready by 2017.”

The engine is being developed for interplanetary manned spacecraft to ensure that Russia maintains a competitive edge in the space race, including the exploration of the Moon and Mars.

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[SiberianTiger]

More about the cause of the 'exhaustion':

Parabolic Arc: Roscosmos Drama: The General, the Model and the Bottle:

Yesterday's: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120329/172468292.html

Roscosmos Chief Rubbishes Drunk Brawl Rumors

19:09 29/03/2012
(Moscow region, Korolyov), March 29 (RIA Novosti)
Tags: Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin, Moscow Region, Russia

The head of the Russian space agency, Roscosomos, Vladimir Popovkin who was hospitalized in early March, denied on Thursday media rumors suggesting he was beaten in a drunk brawl.

Roscosmos said on March 7 that Popovkin was hospitalized because of strong “physical and emotional exhaustion,” caused by his hectic schedule.

However a Russian tabloid Life News posted Popovkin’s photo with his head bandaged and reported, attributing an unnamed source, that the official was admitted to the hospital after he was beaten with a bottle in a drunk brawl in a Moscow restaurant.

«If there was a brawl…I would sign a resignation letter the next day [because I'm a General of Russian Army, I've come a long way towards here, and I've got a conscience]…I respect myself very much, and frankly speaking, I still can’t handle all that filth that was undeservedly said about me,” Popovkin told reporters.

Popovkin said that he was injured when he fainted after a hard day at work.

“While leaving the office [at 2:30 am], I lost consciousness and fell…There was no any brawl, any bottle, I hadn’t visited any restaurants,” the space official said.

The official accused “space industry contractors” of disseminating false rumors about him because they were dissatisfied with his attempt to reform the industry.

Popovkin however refused to specify who could be behind the smear campaign.

 

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RIA Novosti: Roscosmos, ESA Agree Joint Mars Research:

Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said on Friday it agreed Russia’s participation in a Mars research project with the European Space Agency (ESA), a spokeswoman for the Roscosmos chief said on Friday.

Roscosmos and ESA chiefs Vladimir Popovkin and Jean-Jacques Dordain met in Moscow on Friday.

"The sides consider this project feasible and promising,” Popovkin’s spokeswoman Anna Vedishcheva said. “The sides are to sign the deal by year-end.”

A Russian space industry source earlier said that the final agreement on Russia’s participation in ExoMars is expected to be signed in November “and by this date the sides should confirm their financing.”

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RIA Novosti: Russia Plans to Launch Lunar Rovers to Moon after 2020:

Russia plans to send two lunar rovers to Moon after 2020 and a landing station after 2022 as the first steps to form the future manned lunar base there, the country's Academy of Sciences said in its report on Saturday.

Under the document, obtained by RIA Novosti, core aims of the Russian scientists are to study polar regions of Moon and gas-dust exosphere of the satellite, make a soil samples and find the most comfortable areas for lunar base deployment.

The first phase stipulates Moon exploration by Luna-Resurs and Luna-Glob probes from 2015, while at the second stage Lunokhod-3 and Lunokhod-4 lunar rovers will work on the satellite in 2020-2022. The landing station will be sent to Moon in 2023.

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RIA Novosti: Russia Plans to Bind Satellite to Apophis Asteroid:

Russia plans to send a satellite with a radio beacon to near-Earth asteroid of 99942 Apophis for finding out how big is a threat of its collision with Earth, the country's Academy of Sciences said in its report on Saturday.

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The core target of the possible mission will be to clarify the exact trajectory of Apophis for up to 2036. The satellite will be equipped with a radioisotope power source with a buffer battery.

"From technical point of view the mission could be started for implementation from 2015," the Academy said in the report.

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[Suzy]

Slightly more detailed article on the nuclear propulsion: "Plutonium to Pluto: Russian nuclear space travel breakthrough" - what type of nuclear reactor would this be?

(Earlier article from 2009 - same project?)

 

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Parabolic Arc: Khrunichev DG: Inaugural Angara Launches on Schedule for 2013*

 

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Parabolic Arc: Skolkovo Fund, Roscosmos to Cooperate on Space Tech:

Roscosmos and the Skolkovo Fund will work together on developing advanced space and telecommunications technologies as part of the space agency’s long-range development plan that extends out to 2030 and beyond, Russian media report.

Under the partnership, the two organizations will define priorities for the development of innovative space technologies. Skolkovo will also work to bring together Roscosmos with other organizations and companies on programs of mutual interest.

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[Unstung]

"...Russia’s space agency Roscosmos agreed to replace NASA, putting the ExoMars project back on the launchpad."

 

[IronRain]

Spaceflight Now: Russia, Europe to sign ExoMars accord by year's end

Russia told European Space Agency officials last week it will partner with Europe on the ExoMars orbiter and rover missions after NASA dropped out of the project in February due to budgetary concerns, according to the Russian space agency.

The leaders of the space agencies - Roscosmos chief Vladimir Popovkin and ESA director general Jean-Jacques Dordain - met in Moscow on Friday to discuss the joint Mars missions, which are due to launch in 2016 and 2018. ESA calls the 2016 and 2018 missions ExoMars.

ESA began courting Russia as a full partner in the ExoMars project last year as NASA's funding commitment wavered before the U.S. space agency pulled out of the mission in February.

According to a statement by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, officials agreed the exploration of Mars "represents a joint scientific interest" for both agencies.

Roscosmos and ESA will sign a formal accord on the ExoMars project by the end of 2012, according to a communique issued by the Russian space agency.

Russia will provide two Proton launchers to dispatch the ExoMars orbiter and rover on two flights in 2016 and 2018. Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for the 2016 orbiter, which will carry detectors to measure methane and other trace gases in the Mars atmosphere.

A European entry, descent and landing demonstrator will fly to Mars with the 2016 orbiter.

A rover developed by Astrium Satellites in the United Kingdom will launch two years later in 2018. A Russian-built entry, descent and landing package will shepherd the rover to the red planet's surface.

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Artist's concept of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and descent demonstrator. Credit: ESA

 

[boogabooga]

Saw this in the news today:

http:// http://news.yahoo.com/russia-spend-1-billion-cosmodrome-160502785.html

 

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RIA Novosti:

• Roscosmos Ready to Give Phobos-Grunt Second Try:

  Russia’s space agency Roscosmos on Tuesday backed an initiative to give the Phobos-Grunt project a second chance.
  
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  “We’ve backed it [a proposal from the institute of space studies on the Phobos-2 project]. We agree with their position. This will be reflected in the strategy [for space development until 2030],” Roscosmos Chief Vladimir Popovkin said.
  
  The new project will not be a simple repeat of Phobos-Grunt 1, Popovkin said.
  
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• Russia to Increase Number of Space Service Centers to 25
  
  
• Russia to Test Second Glonass-K Satellite in 2013

 

[N_Molson]

The new project will not be a simple repeat of Phobos-Grunt 1, Popovkin said.

I hope so ! :shifty:

 

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RIA Novosti: Plan to Counter Space Threats Proposed:

Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has proposed a special federal program to neutralize space threats, Roscosmos deputy head Vyacheslav Davydov said on Thursday.

Threats at the planetary level related to asteroids, comets and space junk necessitates significant financial, intellectual and manufacturing resources to counter through international efforts, he said.

The program should be coordinated by the Russian Academy of Sciences, he added.

“Russia should participate in all the relevant [international] R&D projects on the subject,” Davydov said.

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RIA Novosti: Russia to Send Manned Mission to Moon by 2030:

MOSCOW, April 27 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is planning to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030, Russian space agency Roscosmos said on its website on Friday.

According to the Russian space strategy published on the Roscosmos website, Moscow has set several waypoints for its space exploration activities: 2015, 2020, 2030 and the period after 2030.

Roscosmos will resume lunar exploration by 2015 using an unmanned space ship. Russia is also planning to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030, the space agency said.

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[boogabooga]

Better late than never!