ISS International Space Station

Russian National Orbital Service Station (ROSS)

Main article: Russian National Orbital Service Station (ROSS)

International Cooperation in Space Exploration

The first space race was part of the Cold War, but after its end, space exploration ceased to be a rivalry, turning into international cooperation.

Close international cooperation in the field of cosmonautics arose in the 60s of the XX century due to the high cost of space projects, as well as the interest of all states in the effectiveness of practical activities and results in the development of outer space^[1].

Since then, all participants who use and explore outer space have to follow the principles of cooperation, mutually helping each other, carrying out space activities taking into account the interests of other countries.

Even before the international treaties on space appeared, states observed the principles and norms of the use of outer space at the level of customs. For example:

• not to spread state sovereignty in space;
• All States have equal rights in the field of space exploration and use;
• Space activities should be in full compliance with general international law;
• the existence of the international responsibility of each State for its space activities.

In 1959, the UN Committee was founded by 24 states, whose work is aimed at regulating peaceful goals in outer space and assisting in the implementation of programs under the auspices of the UN in the field of space. To date, the Committee consists of more than 70 states.

In 1967, the Treaty between the Soviet Union, the United States and Great Britain was concluded, which formed the basis of international space law. Subsequently, many other countries joined the Space Treaty.

Mutual work on the development and use of extraterrestrial space is built on two main forms: 1. between organizations that engage in space activities; <bt> 2. work in joint international space projects and programs.

Multilateral and bilateral international treaties are being created for such cooperation. Russia has such agreements with many countries, in particular, on the launch of space objects by Russian launch vehicles, as well as on the use of the Baikonur cosmodrome (with Kazakhstan).

Of the organizations, the following can be cited as an example:

• European Space Agency;
• International Maritime Satellite Communications Organization;
• European Organisation for the Use of Meteorological Satellites;
• Arab Satellite Communications Corporation and others.

There are also specialized UN agencies to regulate certain issues of space cooperation, such as:

• International Telecommunication Union;
• World Meteorological Organization;
• International Civil Aviation Organization;
• International Maritime Organization.

Thanks to joint cooperation, it is possible to cover various areas of space activity - to create samples of space technology, conduct scientific research, carry out joint flights, use the results of space activities, etc.

The clearest example of international cooperation is the creation and use of the International Space Station (ISS), the creation of the COSPAS-SARSAT International Program for the search and rescue of people by receiving information from satellites about the disaster of aircraft and sea vessels.

What the station looks like

As of 2019, the station almost covers an area of ​ ​ a football field, and weighs 419,454 kg. The complex has six bedrooms, as well as two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree window.

ISS compared to the football field.

What countries were on the ISS

Data at the end of 2018

Tiangong (space station)

Main article: Tiangong (space station)

2024: US astronauts stranded on ISS due to Boeing Starliner problems, ask Musk to return them to Earth

In August 2024, the return of American astronauts was postponed until February 2025. NASA agency turned to a competitor - SpaceXIlon Mask after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft had technical problems.

2023: ISS cosmonaut told what American software is used by the Russian crew. There is no analogue of its own yet, but it is very needed

On the International Space Station (ISS), as you know, there are Russian and American segments, and the set of software on systems in these segments is different. There are things that the ISS Russian crew is doing at the moment with the help of specialized American software, because there is no similar Russian yet. This follows from the speech of the test cosmonaut of the Roscosmos detachment Pyotr Dubrov at the site of city laboratories ВЭБ.РФ on Cosmonautics Day, April 12, 2023.

In 2022, Peter Dubrov set a record for the duration of one flight as part of the ISS program among Russians "(photo - press service of the governor and government of the Khabarovsk Territory)"

As an example, the astronaut cited the American OPTIMIS program. In NASA materials, its name stands for Operations Planning TIMeline Integration System. It is also used by specialists on Earth who plan work by introducing them into this system. And, replicating this data on board, they can be seen by the ISS crew.

OPTIMIS provides in a visual interactive form all the data on the work of the crew at the moment, for the next few days with all the related information - these are radiograms, and descriptions of the work, reference data, Pyotr Dubrov describes. All this information is summarized into a single system, where it is conveniently connected by hyperlinks.

The convenience of OPTIMIS, including the fact that the crew on board can enter data into the system that synchronizes with the Earth, and after a while on Earth, in the flight control center, they can also be seen at home.

But since this is an American system and it is designed primarily for American astronauts and work on their ISS segment, it is integrated with American flight procedures, explains Peter Dubrov. Russians also use this program - in terms of displaying works, transmitting messages to Earth. But if there is a link to a radiogram, then it is opened in other ways.

And we can display this format, this schedule only on American systems - either on a tablet or on a laptop, which they give us for use, - said Pyotr Dubrov, answering a TAdviser question.

We do not have such a program yet.

It's good that we can use it now. But if we think towards our, Russian, orbital station, which is just around the corner, then, of course, we need our own similar system, - said the astronaut.

He also mentioned that access to the Internet, which is on the ISS, is also carried out from American tablets via the American Wi-Fi network.

If we connect to the Wi-Fi subnet of the Russian segment, then we will not have such an access to the Internet, we will only have local communication with local systems, "explained Pyotr Dubrov.

Although now both in the spacecraft and at the station, Russian cosmonauts constantly use electronic tablets, but, by and large, as "readers" - mainly for reading radiograms that are supplied on board either in DOC format or in PDF format. And in the process of work they do not participate much yet, although there are great opportunities for their integration, says Peter Dubrov.

Having behind him the education of a software engineer and specialized experience before being selected for the cosmonautics detachment, Pyotr Dubrov says that already in the course of the flight he began to refine the systems used for work by the crew in terms of integrating various, as yet disparate elements of the information system into a single network. Now radiograms are supplied on board with a separate data array, and there are various additional information resources - auxiliary videos, photos, etc.

The creation of some kind of unified information system that would combine all this is, I believe, now a priority in the development of software for the crew at the station. This would greatly help and facilitate the work, - notes Peter Dubrov.

2022

"Progress" saved the ISS from a collision with space debris

The Russian cargo spacecraft Progress led the International Space Station (ISS) away from space debris by correcting the height of its orbit. This was Roskosmos reported in "" on December 21, 2022. here More.

The cost of delivering 1 kg of cargo to the ISS is 1.5 million rubles

The cost of delivering a kilogram of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) is an average of 1-1.5 million rubles. This was announced in early November 2022 by the Director General of the Research and Design Institute of Chemical Engineering (NIIkhimmash) Alexander Tsygankov.

He clarified that this amount refers to the delivery of goods on a transport cargo ship, and delivery by a manned ship is much more expensive.

The cost of delivering a kilogram of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) is an average of 1-1.5 million rubles.

The head of NIIkhimmash added that the high cost of delivery directly affects the conditions imposed on goods, in particular, by the organization he heads. The head noted that the specialists of NIIhimmash "are constantly fighting for compactness, energy efficiency and a decrease in the mass of equipment."

Although the small hydraulic circuit of the apparatus can be graphically represented literally on the A4 sheet, this product can be the key and most important link in the system. Accordingly, such nuances are reflected, among other things, in the peculiarities of production, - said Tsygankov.

Earlier, the general designer of the Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) Energia, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Solovyov, said that the cost of the International Space Station (SRC), according to independent estimates, is about $150 billion. 

Of this $150 billion in real money, only 10% was spent. As for the possibilities for use, 30% of research opportunities are recorded for the Russian side. This is a good ratio: 10% was spent - 30% can be received , - he noted.

Solovyov also noted that, unfortunately, the possibilities for scientific research in the Russian segment are limited, including due to the number of scientific equipment

Russia will withdraw from the ISS project after 2024

Russia will withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024. This was announced at the end of July 2022 by the head of Roskosmos"" Iouri Borisov in a report to the President of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Putin

You know that we are working in the framework of international cooperation on the International Space Station. Of course, we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision and departure from this station after 2024 have been made, Borisov said.

Russia plans to leave the ISS project after 2024

In his opinion, the future of Russian manned cosmonautics "should first of all be based on a balanced and systematic scientific program in order for each flight to enrich us with knowledge in the field of space."

So far, it is quite difficult to perceive such statements. You can consider a completely radical scenario - the fact that Russia will cease to be present on the ISS in any way, but then the station simply cannot exist. It will need to be heated together, because our segment provides most of the viability systems. Maybe in another scenario it is envisaged that Russia, as a state, will withdraw from the project, but at the same time the service corporations will remain working for it, - Nikita Veliyev, managing partner of Deeptech Partners, commented on Borisov's statement in a conversation with Kommersant FM.

On April 30, 2022, Dmitry Rogozin, who was then the head of Roscosmos, said that a decision had been made on the end date of the Russian Federation's work on the ISS, but the state corporation was not obliged to report it publicly. He also noted that the Russian side will warn ISS partners a year before the end of work, this period is provided for by international obligations.

Meanwhile, the United States intends to continue operating the International Space Station (ISS) until 2030. This was announced on July 26, 2022 by the head of the American ISS program Joel Montalbano. He recalled that the previously corresponding plan was approved by the American administration.^[2]

2021

NASA has increased the cost of delivering goods to the ISS by almost seven times

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration USA () NASA raised prices for commercial delivery of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) in March 2021, NASA said in a statement^[3][4]

At the same time, the cost of delivering 1 kg of cargo to the ISS increased almost sevenfold - from $3 thousand to $20 thousand, Spacenews magazine reported. The price of delivering 1 kg back from the station to Earth rose from $6 thousand to $40 thousand.

"Since the publication of the original pricing policy in June 2019, there has been an increase in demand for commercial and marketing activities both from traditional aerospace companies and from new industries. The pricing policy since June 2019 has not fully reflected the cost of using NASA resources. It was aimed at stimulating the market, and it was planned to adjust it, "NASA said.

NASA will also revise the pricing policy for private missions to the ISS. In 2021, investors from the USA and Canada Larry Connor and Mark Party, as well as Israeli businessman Eitan Stibbe, are due to go to the station. The crew commander will be former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, now vice president of Axiom Space, which organizes the flight.

2020

Russia will replace the American communication channel with the ISS domestic

Roscosmos plans to abandon the use of the American broadband communication channel with the ISS in the near future and switch to communication with the help of domestic Luch series devices, the state corporation's website said in a statement.

To date, American TDRS relay satellites are used to transmit large amounts of information from the station to Earth and back - and on a paid basis. Small volumes can be transferred when the ISS flies over Russian communication points.

"The new space communication line is being tested, and it is planned to be put into regular operation in the near future. This will make it possible to abandon the use of channels of the American TDRS relay system for broadband data transmission on the Russian segment of the ISS, "the message says.

We are talking about a multifunctional space relay system "Luch." It has three spacecraft - Luch-5A, Luch-5B and Luch-5V, launched into space in 2011-2014.

Roscosmos proposed to abandon the ISS due to the high cost

Main article: Russian National Orbital Service Station (ROSS)

Some elements of the International Space Station (ISS) are seriously damaged and cannot be replaced with new ones, the first deputy general director of the Rocket and Space Corporation (SRC) Energia (part of Roscosmos) of the Vladimir Solovyov announced in November 2020 during the Space Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). His statement is quoted by the portal "Scientific Russia"^[5].

According to him, after 2025, an avalanche-like failure of the ISS systems will begin, as a result of which further maintenance of the station will become too expensive. "The spending on further financing, which is estimated at 10-15 billion rubles, is too large," Solovyov admitted.

To replace the ISS in Energia, it was proposed to create a Russian orbital service station (ROSS), which, in particular, provides for an unmanned mode of operation. Solovyov is confident that the rotational mode of work of astronauts will reduce the radiation load on them.

Russia launched Internet independent of Americans on the ISS

At the end of July 2020 , the Internet and broadband communication channel appeared in the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), which do not depend on American systems. This was told by the director of the digital development department of Roscosmos Konstantin Shadrin.

In one round of the ISS lasting 92 minutes, the Internet is available twice. Each session lasts almost half an hour. By the end of July 2020, two Luch relay satellites are operating, and in the near future they plan to add a third to them. These satellites, according to the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, will be able to provide almost round-the-clock delivery of information for the crew and receive information back from the ISS to Earth. The channel speed will be up to 105 Mbps.

Russia has provided its astronauts on the ISS with US-independent Internet access

Previously, Russian cosmonauts could communicate with the Earth only by flying over the territory of the Russian Federation, and if necessary, communications outside these zones used American means. At the end of June 2020, cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin voted online on board the ISS for the first time in history. For this, the American Internet was used.

Now we do not depend on our colleagues and their American segment, - said Konstantin Shadrin.

As TASS reminds, the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin promised the appearance of an independent broadband Internet in the Russian segment of the ISS by the end of 2020 at the expense of the Luch satellites^[6]

Astronaut Alexander Skvortsov tested the Russian broadband communication system on the ISS and noted that it would allow transmitting large packets of telemetric information regardless of American colleagues. By the end of July 2020, the American TDRS system is used to communicate with the ISS, data in which is transmitted using satellites of the same name located in geostationary orbit.

Negotiations on the extension of the life of the station until 2030 and plans for the creation of a Russian station

The Progress Russian cargo ships will flood the International Space Station when it works out its resource, the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said in July 2029.

The ISS expires in 2024. Russia is negotiating with partners in the station to extend it until 2030. Russia will create its own space station after 2030. Rogozin did not say whether the station would be exclusively Russian or international. He believes that it depends on the global situation.

Rogozin explained that Russia needs a refueling orbital station, which will allow refueling spacecraft for long-range crossings and satellites to increase the resource of work in orbit.

American biomedical 3D printer commissioned on board ISS

On May 15, 2020, it became known that the American research company Techshot conducted its first experiment on 3D printing of human tissues in zero gravity conditions on the BFF bioprinter, developed in conjunction with nScrypt and delivered aboard the International Space Station in July 2019. Read more here.

2019

Departure to the ISS of the CIMON 2 robot, which will prevent astronauts from going crazy

On December 5, 2019, the CIMON 2 robot, equipped with speech detectors with the function of recognizing human emotions, went to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Dragon spacecraft with the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Read more here.

A compartment for robots looking for leaks will be attached to the ISS

RELL Engineering Development Unit (left) pictured alongside RiTS flight unit that will fly to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX-19

A special compartment for small robots will appear on the ISS, which will be installed on the outside of the station. The device will provide optimal conditions for the safety of equipment, and its location will allow you to quickly start work on detecting leaks and save space inside the station. The new compartment will be carried to the ISS by the Falcon 9 rocket with the cargo ship Cargo Dragon as part of the CRS-19 mission, which starts today at 20:51 Moscow time, according to a press release on the website of^[7][8].

A lot of robotic equipment is installed on the International Space Station. In particular, there are two RELL devices (Robotic External Leak Locators - a robotic detector of external leaks), which is used to find places where gases flow through the slots in the station body.

RELL robots are equipped with mass spectrometers and are able to capture even small concentrations of gases - for example, ammonia, which is used to cool the station. They are operated by operators from Earth and operate outside the station and stored inside. In this regard, each session of work requires coordination with the crew schedule and the opening of the locks, which significantly slows down and complicates the performance of functions.

NASA employees are going to change the situation by placing an RiTS (Robotic Tool Stowage) container outside the ISS body. The device will be delivered to the station on the cargo ship Cargo Dragon, which will leave on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle today, December 4. Inside, RiTS will maintain an optimal temperature regime, and its body will provide physical protection against micrometeorites. Together with RiTS, a pair of new RELL robots will be delivered on board.

The location on the external case solves several problems at once. First, there is now no need to interfere with the station crew and open the locks. Secondly, there is no need to wait for moisture and gases to escape from measuring devices, which, if the robot was stored inside the station, could take up to 12 hours. Thirdly, RiTS will always be in the zone of availability of the Dextre manipulator, which will significantly reduce the preparation time for finding leaks.

The installation of RiTS outside the hull will take place in manual mode during the next astronaut spacewalk.

2018

The United States can order a ship from the Russian Federation to deliver astronauts to the ISS

The United States intends to order in Russia the manufacture of the Soyuz spacecraft to deliver its astronauts to the International Space Station in 2020 due to a delay in the manufacture of American commercial spacecraft, a source in the US rocket and space industry told RIA Novosti^[9].

"Negotiations are underway to order the manufacture of the Soyuz manned spacecraft. Its production and flight to the ISS will be fully paid for by the American side. The crew will include two American astronauts. The ship will be controlled by a Russian cosmonaut, "the agency's interlocutor

According to him, the contract is planned to be concluded between Boeing Corporation and RSC Energia. A similar contract was concluded for the delivery of American astronauts in 2018 and the first half of 2019.

The interlocutor of RIA Novosti clarified that the conclusion of the contract will require permission from American lawmakers who may criticize NASA's dependence on Russia.

Problems may arise from the Russian side. Earlier, the media reported that the then Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin in April demanded, in particular, from the rocket and space industry to coordinate with him the conclusion of all contracts with countries that imposed sanctions on Russia.

After the closure of the Space Shuttle project in 2011, the United States lost independent access to space. Since then, flights of American astronauts to the International Space Station have been carried out only on Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

NASA: sanctions will prevent the United States from delivering cargo to the ISS

In 2 years, the United States will not be able to deliver its cargo to the ISS due to sanctions prohibiting joint commercial activities with Roscosmos companies, according to a report by NASA Inspector General Paul Martin^[10].

Now American cargo is delivered to the ISS using Russian RD-181 engines, which are used in the most important part of the flight - in the first stage of the launch vehicle.

At the time of the introduction of US sanctions under both Barack Obama and Donald Trump, Congress approved an amendment that allows the United States to buy Russian rocket engines until 2020.

RD-181 manufactured by the Russian NPO Energomash JSC are used in the American Antares 230 launch vehicles of Orbital ATK.

The NASA Office of Inspector General report emphasizes that US developments to create a replacement for RD-181 are far from practical. The United States is gradually abandoning the services of Roscosmos.

SpaceX began shipping cargo to the ISS in 2012, and Orbital ATK in 2014.

In January 2016, NASA selected three US companies - Orbital ATK, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada - for the second round of contracts for the supply of cargo to the ISS until 2024.

In December 2015, the United States ordered 20 RD-180 rocket engines from Russia manufactured by the Russian NPO Energomash JSC for Atlas launch vehicles. In 2016, Orbital Sciences Corporation (USA) decided to exercise an option to purchase 8 more RD-181 engines, Vesti reported earlier. Economics. "

NPO Energomash JSC is a leading global developer and manufacturer of powerful oxygen-kerosene rocket engines. NGOs have been successfully cooperating with US companies since the early 90s. In addition to RD-181 since the early 2000s. the United States supplies another NPO Energomash engine - RD-180, 100 units of which the Americans have already bought. RD-181 is a single-chamber closed-cycle liquid-propellant rocket engine with afterburning of oxidizing generator gas. RD-180 is a two-chamber engine with afterburning of the oxidizing generator gas, with control of the thrust vector by swinging each chamber in two planes, with the possibility of providing deep throttling of the engine thrust in flight. RD-180 has the highest reputation: all launches of Atlas family launch vehicles, equipped with RD-180, were successful.

IBM Robot Launch

On February 28, 2018, it became known that the companies Airbus IBM had joined forces to develop the CIMON (Crew Interactive MObile CompanionN) interactive assistant - a movable robot ball the size of a stuffing ball equipped with artificial intelligence Watson (AI) technology.

Newsweek notes that CIMON will be the first "flying computer" in space when the robot is delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) to work with astronauts. The robot weighs about five kilograms and is made of metal and plastic through 3D printing. Read more here.

2017: Google Virtual Tour

The Google street view international-space-station/cupola-observational-module project allows you to take a virtual tour of the station, located 400 km above the Earth's surface. Now everyone can see in detail what the ISS looks like from the inside, walk along its corridors, study the 17 compartments of the station and find out how the astronauts live.

2016: Start of development of a bioprinter for the ISS

August 04, 2016 United Rocket and Space Corporation (ORKK) (part of the state corporation Roskosmos"") signed an agreement with the company 3D Bioprinting Solutions"," a resident of the innovation center, "Skolkovo on cooperation, within the framework of which it is planned to create a unique bioprinter for magnetic biofabrication of tissues and organ constructs in zero gravity conditions on the International Space Station (ISS) (). more about the project

2015: ISS Modules (3D)

International Space Station against the background of the Moon's disk.

Notes