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- "Today, the race for the exploration of the moon is unfolding in the world"
"Today, the race for the exploration of the moon is unfolding in the world"
Sending a new biosatellite into orbit, a planetary rover to the Moon, an automatic station to Venus, as well as the search for life in the Universe are envisaged by Russian programs included in the federal project "Space Science" until 2036. Gennady Krasnikov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia about this in an interview. The meeting is timed to coincide with the launch of the Bion-M spacecraft No. 2. The scientist also said that the exploration of the Moon will take place with the help of robots. The corresponding program is being prepared by the RAS Space Council. Over the course of the decade, Russian specialists will launch six lunar missions, two astrophysical observatories and two scientific devices for studying the Sun and space weather, one automatic interplanetary station and at least one new biological satellite. The joint agency of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Roscosmos will monitor the deadlines for space projects.
"The launch of the next Bion will take place in the next five to six years."
Gennady Yakovlevich, recently launched the Bion-M satellite No. 2 with animals and plants on board. What results do scientists expect from the implementation of this project?
— The scientific value of the mission is extremely high. Russia is one of the world leaders in the field of space biological research, and many foreign organizations actively use Russian developments in this field.
In the current mission, the satellite is placed in an orbit that passes over the poles of the Earth. In these areas, the planet's magnetic field, which protects all living things from cosmic radiation, is weakened. Such conditions simulate the deep space environment to a certain extent. Studying them will make it possible to better prepare human expeditions to the moon and other planets.
— When will the next Bion-type satellite fly?
— Now such a project is at the initial stage of the preliminary design of the mission. At the same time, its parameters directly depend on the results of the current mission. It will end in a month.
We expect the launch of the next Bion to take place in the next five to six years. We expect it to fly in 2030. Unlike the current device, which is operated at an altitude of about 380 km, the new satellite will be launched into a higher orbit — about 800 km. This will make it possible to study the factors of space flight in conditions of even more severe radiation exposure.
— How does the Academy of Sciences interact with Russian space enterprises now?
— We have traditionally had warm contacts with all the leaders of this industry. The same relationship has developed with the new CEO of the Roscosmos State Corporation Dmitry Bakanov. Largely due to the joint strict control, the Bion-M project No. 2 was able to reach the finish line, although its launch was postponed at least four times during the previous seven years.
To make cooperation even more effective, the Russian Academy of Sciences and Roscosmos have created a permanent advisory body to promptly resolve issues. He has already started his work.
— A new federal project "Space Science" has recently been adopted. What are its main provisions?
— At the end of June, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved an unprecedented program for the space industry. The largest in the history of modern Russia. In particular, it sets an ambitious goal — to become one of the three world leaders in the field of space science.
The Federal program "Space Science" includes several key areas. The first of these is the study of deep space. The second focuses the attention of scientists on the Solar system. And here the main efforts will be focused on the mission to Venus. A large range of research is related to the study of solar-terrestrial relations, which is important for the development of orbital groupings and other modern infrastructure systems.
In addition, Russian specialists are interested in biological research in space. Also, a significant part of the federal project is devoted to the exploration and development of the Moon.
"At the first stage, the exploration of the Moon will take place with the help of robots"
— What stages of lunar exploration are envisaged?
— This program has been specially allocated in a separate direction, because today the race for the exploration of the Moon is unfolding in the world. For example, there is a satellite exploration program called Artemis. It is being implemented by 56 participating countries under the leadership of NASA. At the same time, the International Lunar Science Station project unites 13 countries, including Russia.
We also have our own national project, which is currently registered until 2036. At the same time, the RAS Space Council is preparing a program for the scientific exploration of the Moon until 2060.
According to current plans, the Luna-26 space station will be launched in 2028. Her main task is to select suitable landing sites. Then, in 2029 and 2030, the Luna-27.1 and Luna-27.2 landers will be sent to the South and North Poles of the Moon. In another three to four years, the Luna-28 mission will take place, which will deliver samples of lunar soil to Earth. The Luna-29 space station will also be launched. In addition to research, it will serve as a repeater. In 2035-2036, Luna-30 will be sent to the satellite with a heavy lunar rover for long-term scientific research.
— You can see that the deadlines have shifted "to the right" again. How will they deal with project delays?
— It is worth noting that the main burden falls on NPO Lavochkin, which has to manufacture more than half of the equipment for the implementation of lunar programs. Therefore, the approved program includes significant funds for the modernization of the enterprise. This is necessary for his team to meet the deadlines.
At the same time, the Russian Academy of Sciences has created a department that will oversee space programs and monitor the execution of work on them, both within the cooperation of academic institutions and at Roscosmos enterprises. In addition, as mentioned above, an advisory body has been created, one of the tasks of which is to ensure that schedules do not shift.
— You mentioned the lunar exploration program until 2060. What is the timeline for the manned phase of this program?
— At the first stage, the exploration of the Moon will take place with the help of robotic lunar rovers and remote-controlled vehicles, without human intervention. The machines will be able to perform most research tasks: the search and exploration of minerals, the placement and installation of scientific equipment, as well as the preparation of the Moon for use as an intermediate base for interplanetary flights, and so on. Scientists are currently developing appropriate technologies. Next year, the RAS Space Council will present a detailed program of lunar robotic missions.
Expeditions to the Moon with the participation of humans within the framework of Russian programs are envisaged beyond the horizon of the current federal project. They will be the next phase of the satellite's development, after the creation of all the necessary infrastructure with the help of automatic devices.
"Understanding the evolution of Venus will allow us to take measures so that the Earth does not repeat the negative scenario"
— Can you please tell us about the scientific modules that are being created for the Russian Space Station (ROS)?
— The current project provides a module for biomedical research and a second module for a broad profile. Scientific organizations are preparing their proposals for experimental programs in the Russian Federation. The design and technical content of the modules are formed on their basis. There are approximate dates for the creation of modules, but they are tied to the construction schedule of the station itself.
However, the advantage of the future station is not only in specialized modules. It is important that it will give a different level of energy. Unlike the ISS, where 5-7 kW is allocated for experiments, up to 50 kW will be allocated for these purposes on ROS, which will open up broader prospects for scientific research.
— One of the main directions of the Russian space program is the exploration of Venus. Will this project be implemented in the near future?
— Russia considers Venus as a priority in studying the objects of the Solar system. Since the 70s of the last century, domestic spacecraft have made a series of successful landings on the surface of the planet. The accumulated knowledge has become an invaluable asset.
According to the plan, the new Russian automatic interplanetary station Venera-D will be launched in 2036. The draft design includes requirements for collecting comprehensive data at three levels — the upper and middle layers of the atmosphere and on the surface of the planet. Special modules are being created for each of these stages — an orbital station, balloons and a lander, respectively.
Of great interest is the possible detection of organic compounds in clouds, which may indicate the presence of the simplest living creatures. Also, during the mission, scientists will test the hypothesis of the existence of life forms on the surface of Venus on biochemical principles other than terrestrial ones.
In addition, Venus is called the sister of the Earth. Its mass is about 95% of the mass of our planet. However, the evolutionary paths of these celestial bodies have radically diverged. Finding out the reasons why Venus has turned into an incandescent world with extreme conditions is one of the outstanding scientific tasks. Understanding the evolution of Venus will allow us to take measures so that the Earth does not repeat the negative scenario.
Spektr-UV will replace the Hubble telescope, which has significantly exceeded its intended service life."
— What are the priorities of Russian science in exploring deep space?
— First of all, we are talking about orbital astrophysical observatories. In this direction, Spektr-UV, a space telescope for viewing the sky in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, will be launched in 2031. This large-scale project is designed to explore the universe, explore black holes, gamma-ray bursts, neutron stars and other space objects. We assume that Spektr-UV will replace the Hubble telescope, which has significantly exceeded its intended service life.
The next key project to be implemented within the boundaries of the adopted federal project is the Spektr-M observatory (Millimetron) with a 10-meter mirror. It will operate in the millimeter and submillimeter ranges inaccessible from Earth. This will allow us to study the processes of the origin of our universe, as well as explore exoplanets and accumulations of water in space, which can help in the search for alternative forms of life.
The frame of the main mirror of the Millimetron Space Observatory (Spektr-M)
Scientists have also started designing a fundamentally new Spektr-RGN spacecraft, which, among other studies, will help build a map of the starry sky based on quasars. These are sources of powerful periodic electromagnetic pulses, which are also called beacons of the universe. Quasar navigation is an alternative to existing satellite global positioning systems and a necessary condition for long—range space expeditions.
— What tools are Russian scientists creating to study the Sun?
— The two most significant programs in this area are the Resonance and Arka spacecraft. They are also included in the federal draft. Resonance will be aimed at studying the effects of the solar wind on the magnetosphere and ionosphere of our planet. His task is to understand the mechanisms of the star's influence on near—Earth space. Arka is a space observatory that focuses on a detailed study of the physics of the Sun. This observatory will allow for highly accurate analysis of the star's surface, structure, and dynamics of sunspots.
It should be noted that the orbital "solar" projects will be integrated into a single system with the ground infrastructure of the National Heliogeophysical Complex of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a complex of mega—installations that are being built near Irkutsk. Their joint work will create a single powerful solar activity monitoring system. This is critically important not only for basic science, but also for forecasting space weather, which affects the operation of satellites in orbit, as well as energy, communications and navigation systems on Earth.
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