Lunar program of Russia

The main articles are:

• Cosmonautics of Russia and the USSR
• Moon

Chronicle

2024: Lunar Program Manager Reports Lack of Funds for Luna-27b

Roscosmos supported the idea of ​ ​ creating two automatic stations "Luna-27," but the final decision has not yet been made due to lack of finance. This was announced in mid-September 2024 by the scientific director of the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the scientific director of the first stage of the lunar program of Russia, academician Lev Zeleny. Read more here

2023

Russia will take part in the Chinese lunar project "Chang'e-7"

On December 25, 2023 China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) , it announced that the equipment of the Chang'e-7 automatic interplanetary station, created as part of the PRC's comprehensive research program, Moon would include Russian equipment. In particular, a device called "Dust Monitoring of the Moon," developed in. Institute of Space Research (IKI) RAS More details. here

The Russian government approved the creation of a lunar station with China

At the end of November 2023, the Russian Government approved a joint project with China to create an International Scientific Lunar Station (MNLS). The Commission of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation supported the bill on ratification of the Read more here.

Pakistan joins Russian-Chinese lunar station project

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Exploration Commission Pakistan (SUPARCO) has become an official participant in the project of constructions the International Scientific Lunar Station (MNLS). The corresponding China National Space Administration (CNSA) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA agreement was signed by the head Zhang Kejian and the Pakistani ambassador to Moin ul Haq, who spoke on behalf of SUPARCO, on October 18, 2023. This was announced on October 23, 2023. Roskosmos More. here

Second place in the number of landings on the moon and approaches to it - 22 times

Luna-25 station crash due to abnormal engine shutdown

On August 19, 2023, in accordance with the flight program of the automatic station at Luna-25 14:10 in to Moscow time, a pulse was given to transition to the pre-landing orbit. However, during the operation, an abnormal situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the maneuver to be performed with the specified parameters. More. here

Automatic station "Luna-25" took the first picture of the lunar surface

An automatic station Luna-25 flying in a circular artificial orbit satellite Moon conducted a survey of the lunar surface by television cameras of the STS-L complex. This was Roskosmos reported on August 17, 2023. More. here

Launch of Luna-25 from the Vostochny cosmodrome

The launch of the automatic station Moon-25"" Vostochny cosmodrome from took place on August 11, 2023. The station should begin research on the southern polar region, Moon lasting at least a year. More. here

The first tests of the lunar spacesuit passed

On June 16, 2023, Roskosmos announced the first tests of the lunar spacesuit layout. It was created by the Zvezda research and production enterprise named after Academician G.I. Severin with the participation of the Central Scientific Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering and the Center for Cosmonaut Training (CPC) named after Yu.A. Gagarin. Read more here.

2022

Roscosmos announced the timing of the landing of Russian astronauts on the moon

On October 4, 2022, Roscosmos announced the timing of the landing of Russian cosmonauts on the moon: they, according to the general director of the state corporation Yuri Borisov, will be ready for this by 2030.

Borisov recalled that within the framework of the lunar program, Russia is preparing to send the Luna-25 automatic lander to the moon.

It will be followed by Luna-26, 27, 28, and by 2030 we will be technologically ready for the landing of Russian cosmonauts on the moon, "Borisov said during a speech at the Space Science Days at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

On September 7, 2022, Roskosmos reported that the launch of the Luna-25 station was postponed to July-October 2023 due to problems with the Doppler speed and range meter (DIDS-LR), which is responsible for landing the spacecraft on the lunar surface. According to the state corporation, the characteristics of the device do not meet the terms of reference.

In July 2022, Roscosmos reported that a flight to the moon on a Russian ship for a team of four would cost four times cheaper than a similar launch of a lunar team at NASA. It was noted that such an indicator was achieved due to the effective use of the basic developments of Soviet programs and developments focused on economic advantages.

The station was supposed to go to the moon in 2015, but the launch was postponed for seven years. Subsequently, it was planned to send the missions Luna-26 (for mapping), Luna-27 and Luna-28 (for studying the soil and delivering it to Earth). Also, within the framework of the first stage of the Russian lunar program (until 2025), it is necessary to create a basic module of the near-moon station and test the promising manned spacecraft Oryol. As part of the second stage, astronauts should land on the moon, and communication satellites are placed in lunar orbit. At the final stage (designed for the period from 2035 to 2040), it was planned to complete the construction of the lunar base, create two astronomical observatories and the necessary infrastructure on the moon.^[1]

Putin: Russia resumes lunar program

On April 12, 2022, on Cosmonautics Day, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin visited Vostochny cosmodrome the Amur Region. During this event, the Russian leader announced the resumption of the lunar program of the Russian Federation. It will begin with the launch of the Luna-25 automatic interplanetary station (AMS) to a natural satellite. Lands More. here

Plan for agreement with China to build a station on the moon

In January 2022, it became known. that Russia and China will sign an agreement to build a research station on the moon, officials from the Chinese space agency said.

The two countries intend to complete the basic infrastructure for the lunar station by 2035, Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the Chinese National Space Administration, said at a briefing in Beijing. This includes power, communication and life support systems.

China and Russia have also agreed to cooperate in launching the Chang'e-7 robotic lunar mission roughly in 2025, said Liu Jizhong, director of the administration's China Center for Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering.

Working together, China and Russia are teaming up in a new race for the moon among the world's space powers.

2021

Roscosmos will spend 1.7 billion rubles on research for the lunar program

Roscosmos will spend 1.7 billion rubles on research for the lunar program. The state corporation announced the corresponding tender in September 2021. Read more here.

Russia refused to create a super-heavy rocket "Yenisei" for flight to the moon

September 15, 2021 it became known about the termination of the technical design of the super-heavy rocket for flights to the moon "Yenisei." About this, the general director of the Samara Rocket and Space Center (RCC) "Progress" Dmitry Baranov. Read more here.

Roscosmos creates a spacecraft to deliver animals to the moon

At the end of April 2021, it became known about the order of Roscosmos for the development of the Return-MKA-L spacecraft, designed to study the influence of space factors on living organisms. Read more here.

Russia is starting to use virtual reality to work out exits to the moon "

At the end of March 2021, it became known that Russia was beginning to use virtual reality to work out exits to the moon. The new technology will be tested by participants in a two-week isolation experiment called "Sketch," which will be held on the basis of the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences in  Moscow in mid-April. Read more here.

Russia and China agree on joint exploration of the moon

On March 9, 2021, Russia and China signed a memorandum on the joint development of the moon. The head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin and the head of the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) Zhang Kejian, on behalf of governments, agreed on cooperation, within which it is planned to create an international scientific station on the moon or in its orbit. Read more here.

The general designer revealed the details of the flight of Russian astronauts to the moon

Before flying to the moon, Russian cosmonauts will be on board the ISS or the Russian national station, waiting for assembly in near-earth orbit of the flight complex, Sergei Kuznetsov^[2].

"The preliminary program provides a gap between starts. The crew of the lunar expedition will expect the assembly of the lunar flight complex while at the International Space Station or the Russian National Orbital Station. It will be a transfer hub on the way to the moon, "he said.

Russia and China are working on the technical implementation of a joint lunar station

Roscosmos is discussing with colleagues from China possible scientific tasks for the base on the moon and is working on the technical implementation of the project. This was announced in February 2021 by TASS Information Agency of Russia, Deputy General Director of Roscosmos for International Cooperation Sergei Savelyev.

and also a possible technical implementation of the project is being worked out, "he said.

As the deputy general director of the state corporation specified, at this stage it is planned to implement a project to create a scientific lunar station with wide international cooperation. "Until there are approved agreements with Chinese partners and the creation of an appropriate regulatory framework for cooperation, it seems premature to talk about attracting specific countries/organizations," he stressed.

Russian and Chinese specialists discuss all issues of cooperation in a specially created thematic working group.

Earlier, the official representative of the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) Xu Hongliang said that China will continue to explore the moon and expects to join forces with Russia to implement relevant projects.

In

November 2017, a program of cooperation in the field of space for 2018-2022 was signed between Roscosmos and the Chinese National Space Administration. It includes six sections: the study of the Moon and deep space, space science and related technologies, satellites and their application, element base and materials, cooperation in the field of Earth remote sensing data and other topics. Working subgroups were created for the implementation of projects within the framework of this program. In December 2020, at a round table in the Federation Council, Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin said that in June the Chinese side proposed to involve Europe in cooperation on lunar exploration.

Roscosmos left the American lunar project Gateway

At the end of January 2021, it became known about the exit Roskosmos of "" from the lunar project Gateway headed by. NASA At the same time, the Russian state corporation announced its readiness to discuss USA with questions on the topic of the near-moon station, if they are of "mutual interest." More. here

Russia has developed a mobile pressurized cabin to work on the moon

Rocket and Space Corporation (SRC) Energia (part of Roscosmos) has patented a device for performing manual operations on the surface of other planets and in dangerous gas and liquid media. This is stated in the patent, the content of which was distributed by the Federal Institute of Industrial Property^[3]

"The group of inventions refers to the means and methods of performing manual operations in a vacuum, on the surface of planets, in dangerous gas and liquid media, etc.," the document says . The device consists of a habitable sealed cabin, a functional unit, vacuuming means, a sealed shell with a spacesuit fragment. They are mounted on a wheeled running platform with vertical adjustment means. The sealed cabin is equipped with blisters and portholes, an oxygen cylinder, tools. The device can be used for manual work by cosmonauts-operators as part of the operation and repair of infrastructure facilities, including "on the surface of the Moon, Mars and other astronomical bodies, as well as in ground and underwater conditions."

As specified in the patent, the required pressure is created in the sealed cabin, after which astronauts can go into it, closing the sealed tire behind them. Then the cabin is disconnected from the module and sent to the place of work. One of the astronauts is half in the sealed cabin, half in the spacesuit fragment with which he performs work, the operator is inside the sealed cabin and, according to the instructions, adjusts the position of the device. After completion of the works, the pressurized cabin is again connected to the base module.

Despite the predicted robotization and the development of 3D technologies, the patent says, infrastructure facilities will require constant maintenance and support. "It is quite expected that semi-industrial technological installations, mini-factories, small-scale chemical industries (" embryos ") will appear on the lunar surface, where technological processes will be implemented, previously tested in laboratory and experimental conditions on Earth," the document says.

2020

Roscosmos signed a ₽1,5-billion contract for a super-heavy rocket for flights to the moon

In mid-December 2020, Roskosmos"" signed Rocket and Space Center "Progress" a contract for the development of a super-heavy carrier rocket Yenisei for flights to.  Moon More. here

The RAS assessed the safety of flights to the moon

Flights to the moon are safe for humans with a duration of about two weeks and the absence of large solar flares, Anatoly Petrukovich, director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told RIA Novosti in an interview^[4].

"So far, it seems that flights to the moon are safe for about two weeks in the absence of a major solar flash. And in the nearest lunar program, we are talking, as a rule, about visiting expeditions: he flew in, conducted experiments, repaired the equipment and back, "he said.

According to him, as soon as a person flies beyond the protection of the Earth's magnetic field, the negative impact of solar cosmic rays during flares and galactic cosmic radiation increases.

"Both types of cosmic radiation have their conditional pros and cons. The solar flash can be waited out somewhere, in a more secure compartment. The flow of galactic rays is weaker, but they cannot hide from it, they stitch through, and in the presence of thicker walls, they also additionally generate more dangerous secondary radiation, "Petrukovich explained.

RSC Energia found the possibility of flying to the moon without a super-heavy rocket

The Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, which leads the cooperative to create a superheavy-class rocket for flights to the moon, has patented a flight to the moon scheme that allows it to abandon the creation and use of the superheavy rocket^[5].

"The technical result is the possibility of transporting the crew using a reusable manned spacecraft between the near-Earth orbital station and the base station (on the surface of the Moon - ed.) Without the use of super-heavy launch vehicles and aerodynamic braking," the description of the invention says to the patent published by the Federal Intellectual Property Service.

To land Russian astronauts on the moon and return back, one Soyuz-2.1a rocket and three Angara-A5V missiles under development are required. The first "Angara" on the moon launches a refueling module. Then the crew on the Soyuz rocket inside the Soyuz MS spacecraft is delivered to the International Space Station or another near-Earth station, where it is transferred to a lunar reusable runway. The second Angara-A5V delivers an upper stage and a refueling ship to it. The booster is used to send a bundle of lunar and refueling craft to the moon.

Arriving at the Moon, the reusable runway separates, sits in the landing zone of the refueling module, refuels before departure and, in lunar orbit, docks with the ship with a tanker to pump fuel into its fuel system for flight to Earth. After that, the refueling ship is reduced from orbit and falls on the moon, and the lunar reusable runway complex flies to Earth. On the way, there is a docking with another launched Angara-A5V tanker, and then a docking to the International Space Station, the crew's transition to the Soyuz-MS spacecraft and landing on Earth.

"In general, we can conclude that the proposed control method with the placement of a special reusable manned spacecraft for landing on the lunar surface as part of the near-Earth orbital station will create a transport space system with significantly lower costs for its development, production and development," the patent description concludes.

The Kurchatov Institute has developed an energy installation for the lunar base

Specialists of the Kurchatov Institute received a patent in the summer of 2020 for a system capable of converting thermal energy into electrical energy, including in the conditions of a lunar base. This is stated in the description of the invention distributed by the Federal Institute of Industrial Property^[6].

"The technical problem to which the proposed invention is aimed is to provide the necessary power and energy for the autonomous life support system of equipment and personnel in extreme conditions of the external environment of the lunar base," the description says.

It is noted that the system will consist of two closed loops. One of them includes solar collector, heat exchanger of hot junction and circulation pump. Sunlight will enter the collector, heat will flow into the heat exchanger through the hot liquid metal circuit pipeline and return with the help of a pump for heating. The second circuit, on the contrary, will provide heat removal with the help of a cold junction heat exchanger, which is connected by pipeline to a condenser-radiator.

Energy is generated in the thermoelectric converter due to a large temperature difference. "The autonomous space power plant produces the energy necessary for the functioning of the lunar station during the lunar day, and its excess accumulates for operation during the lunar night," the description of the invention specifies.

Energy can be stored in classic batteries, supercapacitors, or mechanical energy storage systems.

Russia will create a map of the moon to select the landing site of astronauts

The Russian orbiter Luna-26 will create a three-dimensional map of the moon to select the landing site of the first Russian cosmonauts, said Anatoly Petrukovich, director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences , at a meeting of the RAS Space Council  in March 2020, ^[7].

"For the first time, we  will create a topographic map of the moon with a resolution of 2-3 meters using stereo photography. On the plane, this is already after the work of American satellites, but here we will get , using stereo image processing and light analysis, a universal altitude map of the entire moon with high accuracy , "he said.

"Stereo photography is a specific experiment for an orbiter. It has very great application value. In the future, the scientific use of a stereo map is envisaged, which will allow us to analyze lunar structures and their origin. Secondly, it is providing data for autonomous navigation of future manned and automatic missions to the moon , "Petrukovich said.

Previously, ultra-accurate "flat" maps of individual sections of the lunar surface with a resolution of 0.5 meters per pixel were created by the American Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Nevertheless  , the Russian map will have a number of advantages related, for example, to the fact that simultaneously with the images, surfaces will be determined and relief heights, which will allow for greater reliability.

In addition, as Petrukovich explained, although the American side willingly shares its pictures,  its own high-precision map is needed to ensure the reliability of the Russian manned mission to the moon.

The scientist explained that  the height of the Moon-26 orbit during the flight over the lunar surface was chosen specifically for the operation of the stereo camera. It will be about 60 kilometers. "For the stereo camera to work, it was necessary to optimize the orbit parameters so that the device worked most efficiently," Petrukovich said.

The full map of the moon is planned to be shot in the first year of the station's flight from a low circular orbit, requiring periodic adjustment. Next, Luna-26 will be transferred to an elliptical orbit, which over the next 30 years will be stable and will allow various studies of the Earth's satellite.

In total, it is planned to receive up to 40 GB of data every day. The launch of the Luna-26 orbiter is planned for 2024.

RAS scientist named the date of the first launch of the device to the moon in the history of Russia

The launch on the moon of the first national spacecraft Luna-25 in the history of recent Russia is scheduled for October 1, 2021. This was announced in March 2020 at a meeting of the RAS Council on Space, the head of the nuclear planetary science department of the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the RAS Igor Mitrofanov, RIA Novosti reports.

"The main launch date of the device is scheduled for October 1, the backup date is October 30, 2021," Mitrofanov explained.

He noted that for the landing of the device, two areas were chosen in the vicinity of the lunar south pole - the main and reserve. The first is located north of the Boguslavsky crater, and the second is southwest of the Mantsini crater. For a successful mission, the satellite will have to land in one of these areas within the ellipse of 15×30 km of the chosen area. He then explores the properties and composition of the Arctic Circle, measures its mechanical characteristics and the polar exosphere of the Moon.

2019

Roscosmos outlined the timing of the implementation of the Russian lunar program

In June, TsNIImash presented the concept of the Russian lunar research program at the Le Bourget 2019 international aerospace salon. The materials noted that the first landing of a person on a natural satellite of the Earth is scheduled for 2030. Astronauts will conduct "surface experiments, applied scientific research." During this period, automatic spacecraft will also operate on the surface.

After that, regular missions to the moon and the deployment of a permanent lunar base are planned. The main stage is scheduled from 2032 to 2035. It is planned to deploy a permanent base by 2035. During regular missions, "repeaters, energy modules, robotic systems" will be placed on the surface of the Earth's natural satellite, the materials say.

The lunar exploration program, which is being developed in, Russia consists of three stages. Their implementation is planned by 2024, reports on Saturday, September 14, "" Interfax with reference to Roskosmos"."

"The new Russian lunar program is designed until 2040 and is divided into three stages," the message says.

It is noted that the first stage will be called "Sortie," the second - "Outpost," the third - "Base." First, the astronauts will conduct a run-in of all technologies at the International Space Station. Then, during the second stage, they will land on the moon and create the first elements of the visited base. The purpose of the final stage is to build a lunar base, deliver drilling equipment, create experimental production and production complexes and an astrophysical observatory.

The strategic project "Study and Development of the Moon" involves the study of the Earth's satellite from the orbit of this celestial body in 2024 using the Luna-Resource-1 satellite. Approximately in 2027, the Luna-Grunt apparatus should deliver lunar soil to Earth.

In parallel, in 2024, a promising manned transport ship will have to fly to the International Space Station, after which its unmanned flight around the moon is scheduled. By 2028, Russian scientists plan to launch an orbital module into the orbit of the moon.

The flight of the model of the manned spacecraft "Federation" is scheduled for 2028

On May 23, 2019, it became known that Roscosmos finally determined the most preferred appearance of the Yenisei super-heavy launch vehicle, which is planned to be used for flights to the moon. This is a variant with six side blocks with RD-171MV engines and a central block with a RD-180 engine.

Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the creation of a super-heavy rocket in early 2018.

Preliminary design should be completed by November 2019, and the first launch is scheduled for 2028. It is assumed that the rocket will send a model of the manned spacecraft Federation"" to the Moon, it will fly around it and return to Earth^[8] of^[9].

2018

Russia can use modules from the ISS for the near-moon station

Russia may suspend the construction of its segment on the International Space Station (ISS) and use not yet launched modules in the creation of the international Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway. This was reported in July 2018 by RIA Novosti, citing a source in the rocket and space industry.

"Due to the fact that the operation of the ISS is planned to be completed in 2024, and the Russian segment has not yet been completed, proposals are being made to complete its creation in the current configuration, and to use the ordered modules to expand Russian participation in the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway project," the source said.

He noted that we are talking about a nodal module, which has six ports for docking, and a scientific and energy module. The latter, he said, could "significantly" expand the space at the near-moon station.

2017

Russia will create laser navigation on the moon

To create a navigation system, the Luna-25 landing station will be sent to the moon, on which special light beacons will be installed, they will help indicate the exact landing place of the device, Izvestia reported in December 2017.

Specialists on Earth will track these signals using a telescope. The system will be developed by the Lavochkin NGO.

Thanks to this, it will be possible to determine the location of vehicles flying to the moon with an accuracy of 30 meters. In addition, the navigation system will help you move around the planet itself - in this sense, it will work almost like an ordinary car navigator.

Luna-25 will fly in 2019 and land near the South Pole of the Moon.

The Center for Lunar Exploration Programs will open at RSC Energia

The Center for Research and Development of Lunar Exploration Programs will appear as part of the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation. Information about the Lunar Program was confirmed by the Roscosmos Group of Companies, reported in October 2017 Izvestia.

The main task of the Center is to combine the existing competencies in studying the surface of the satellite and its orbital space, which were collected by automated interplanetary stations. In the future, astronauts will need this information during expeditions to the moon. The emergence of the Center will contribute to the development of an international lunar platform, the Deep Space Gateway issue construction of which was discussed in September at the International Astronautics Congress in Australia.

The vacancy of the head of the division remains open. Financial issues and the organizational and staff structure will be resolved after the formation of the Center itself.

According to experts from the Roscosmos Group of Companies, the decision to form a specialized Russian Center for Research and Development of Lunar Exploration Programs is logical and timely for Russian cosmonautics.

Russia and China plan to land a man on the moon

According to Life.ru, citing the Chinese TV channel CGTN, the Russian Federation and China intend to re-land a person on the surface of a natural satellite. The partners are also preparing to search for the wreckage of spacecraft, remote sensing of the Earth and work together to create new satellite systems.

The agreement is due to be signed in October 2017. It is noted that for the first time an agreement between the Russian Federation and China will be concluded for such a long time that it will allow setting and successfully achieving more ambitious goals.

Roscosmos: Russia will continue to explore the moon in 2019

Viktor Khartov, general designer for Roscosmos automotive systems and complexes, said in March that Russia would continue to explore the moon in 2019. As part of a future mission, Russians hope to develop technologies for high-precision and safe landing.

Victor Khartov said that after "40 years we are returning to the moon." As part of the upcoming Luna-Globe mission, Roscosmos must learn how to fly to the moon, navigate, control, control over the flight path in orbit, land in a given area of ​ ​ the moon and work there, Khartov said. In the future, Moscow is going to work out safe and high-precision landing technologies.

Roscosmos announced recruitment to the cosmonaut corps. They will be prepared for the flight to the moon

Roscosmos on March 14 began selecting candidates for the cosmonaut corps. The space corporation said in a statement that the winners of the competition will be the first pilots of the new Federation spacecraft, which is still under development, and the first of the Russians will go to the moon (a manned mission, according to the latest information, is planned for the 2030s^[10].

Citizens of Russia no older than 35 years old with higher education can apply for a place in the cosmonaut squad. The priority is used by specialists with experience in the aviation and rocket and space industry. Candidates must also know English and "have knowledge of interaction with computer technology." A complete list of requirements can be found here.

Candidates for the cosmonaut corps will have to be selected for the level of education and professional skills, psychological qualities, health status and level of physical training.

• The future astronaut must "fit" in a chair on the ship and in a spacesuit in which he will go into outer space. To do this, candidates will measure their height: in a standing position, it must be from 150 to 190 centimeters, sitting - 80-99 centimeters. The maximum width of the hips in the sitting position is 41 centimeters, the chest girth is 94-112 centimeters, the foot is no more than 29.5 centimeters (this is the 46th Russian size), and you should weigh from 50 to 90 kilograms^[11]
• Doctors will check the candidate's health - it should be almost perfect.
• In conclusion, the selection participant must demonstrate knowledge in the field of the basics of manned astronautics, show how quickly and clearly he can remember the information and understand the construction of technical systems. In addition, he must be able to shoot beautiful videos - for those who have experience in camera work, Roscosmos promises an advantage.
• And all this time, psychologists are watching the candidates, assessing their leadership qualities, sociability and even conformism.

Samara engineers design 3D printer to print structures on the moon

Scientists of SamSTU, together with the NGO named after S. A. Lavochkin, are designing a model of a device that will independently print the first artificial stone on the surface of the moon. So far, not a single artificial object has been made on the moon. The project started in 2016 and by 2018, scientists plan to finish the working prototype.

The development is carried out by the team of the Department of Innovative Design of SamSTU under the leadership of Anton Rakov. According to him, the development of the moon is similar to the development of America in the XV-XVI centuries. First, you need to open new territories, then explore and draw up maps, and then - to master in a new environment. Moreover, you need to start not with lunar bases, but with cheaper and smaller projects. For example, with the creation of the first artificial stone.

'We have developed a holistic concept of what and in what sequence should happen during the exploration of the moon, 'comments Anton Rakov, Associate Professor of the Department of Innovative Design at the Architectural and Construction Institute. - And our 3D printer is just one of the elements of this concept. Let me remind you that international agreements still do not regulate the issue of material objects made on the moon, it is forbidden only to appropriate and nationalize territories and resources. Artificial stone on the moon is a tool to legalize their sales. Processing lunar regolith into a building block is a technology that begins the process of fair, that is, mutually beneficial distribution of resources. It follows that commercial activity on the Moon is not just possible, it is inevitable. '

Scientists are working on the first models of a 3D printer. The moon is not an ordinary object, there are many difficulties, one of them is the search for competent consultants. Nevertheless, this spring, experts are going to test the optical system of the device.

Consortium for the Development of the Space Raw Material Base

On January 26, a consortium for the development of a space raw material base was created in Moscow. The consortium includes universities, industrial enterprises, consulting companies: NUST MISIS, Kama Flow, Itessa, GAN LLC, TUSUR, Tomsk State University, Mining Institute. Scientists in Moscow and Tomsk have already developed an apparatus for the production of an analogue of regolith. The results obtained will subsequently fall into a joint project for the extraction of hydrogen and helium on the moon.

1976: Luna 24 is the last robot on the moon in the 20th century

The Soviet spacecraft Luna-24 in 1976 became the last robotic vehicle to land on the Earth's satellite until the beginning of the next century. Samples collected during lunar expeditions gave us a huge amount of knowledge about the geology and satellite formation of our planet. After the 1960s and 1970s, however, major space programs turned their attention to other spheres of^[12] the^[13] for several decades^[14]

November 17, 1970 Lunokhod-1 fell into the Sea of ​ ​ Rains

November 17, 1970, for the first time in the history of mankind, the Luna-17 station with the world's first remotely controlled self-propelled vehicle (planetary vehicle) Lunokhod-1 safely landed in the Sea of ​ ​ Rains. "Lunokhod-1" worked on the Moon for 10.5 Earth months and traveled 10,540 m. In the process of operation, the device made estimates of the patency of the lunar soil, worked 537 cycles of determining the physical and mechanical properties of the surface layer (regolith), conducted its chemical analysis at 25 different points and made panoramic shooting of the surface of the Moon.

1966: "Luna 9" made a soft landing on the Moon

"On February 3, 1966, the Soviet interplanetary station Luna-9 made a soft landing on the Moon": for the first time in history, humanity managed to reach another celestial body and get an image from there.

1924: "Flight to the Moon" Lecture