Multifunctional laboratory module science. Laboratory, berth and power plant: what will the three new modules of the ISS look like?

In the 1960s, the USSR developed the Almaz military orbital station. The main task its crews were supposed to photograph the Earth. The film needed to be returned from orbit, but the Soyuz spacecraft could carry very a small amount of cargo Therefore, the developer of the station, OKB-52, decided at the same time to create universal ship, which could not only deliver large volumes of cargo into orbit, but also return crews to Earth along with kilometers of filmed footage. The ship was named TKS - “ transport ship supplies."

Since the ship was going to be launched into orbit on a Proton rocket, which can lift as much as twenty-odd tons, the designers had the opportunity to realize a beautiful and effective solution: The TKS consisted of two blocks, the reentry vehicle (RA) and the functional cargo block (FGB). The peculiarity of the latter was that such blocks could serve as “building blocks” for orbital stations. These mass-produced modules could simply be added to the station by attaching or changing modules as desired and/or needed (remotely similar idea implemented on the ISS by the Americans when the shuttles carried MPLM). This actually determined the future of the entire project: after testing the return vehicle (by the way, they were designed for reusable use, and two copies made two flights each) and the test autonomous flight of TKS-1 (aka “Cosmos-929”), TKS set off for the station "Salyut-6". There were no more astronauts on it, but the device docked successfully, demonstrating the ability to expand orbital stations with new modules. The third TKS was launched to the Salyut-7 station and worked as part of it from March to September 1983. The fourth (and last) ship went to Salyut 7 in 1985.

Possibility to turn FGB into an additional module orbital station led to the fact that, despite the closure of the TKS project, FGBs were used very widely. One was turned into a tug, and it delivered the Kvant-1 module to the Mir station. Based on the following, they made the Polyus model for the first launch of Energia. Another four became the Kvant-2, Kristall, Spektr and Priroda modules for the Mir station. Already in the nineties, the penultimate FGB called “Zarya” became the first module of the ISS, and they wanted to use the latter as a backup in case of an accident. It was he who eventually became “Science”.

Years and letters

Since the Zarya launch was successful, the logical idea arose to launch the last remaining FGB as another module of the ISS. At first they wanted to send it into space without any special design changes, but in 2004 they decided to reorient the module to accommodate a larger number scientific experiments and renamed the Multifunctional Laboratory Module (MLM).

Initially MLMs were going to launch in 2007. But the deadlines began to shift. According to rumors, it was seriously remodeled, and the work obviously did not proceed quickly. 2007 turned into 2009, then into 2011, and only at the end of 2012 the assembled MLM was delivered from the Center. Khrunichev at RSC Energia to conduct pre-launch checks. Around this time the name "Science" appeared.

Alas, the module did not pass the inspection due to problems in the propulsion system, and at the end of 2013 it was returned back to the manufacturer. By different sources, in Nauka they changed pipelines, valves and engines. In 2017, information appeared that contamination was also found in fuel tanks, which could not simply be washed or replaced. And that's why.

"State of the art" technologies

"Science" saved useful feature modules based on the FGB/TCS - it contains fuel tanks that can be refueled many times, so the module can be used for attitude control and maneuvering of the orbital station. As a matter of fact, in the first years of operation of the ISS, Zarya not only provided the young station with electricity and controlled thermoregulation, but also maintained the required position of the station in space. But because of this, the module’s tanks have a rather complex design.

Inside the tank body there is a bellows (accordion) and a flexible membrane. On one side the fuel is stored, on the other side the required pressure is provided by the boost gas. As a result, the fuel is constantly stored under pressure and does not mix with gases in zero gravity (a mixture of gas and fuel entering a running engine is harmful to it).

The contaminated tanks could not be replaced - for example, simply install other tanks from those currently being produced for the Soyuz spacecraft - they have a different diameter. And there are no more suitable tanks left in stock. And it’s also impossible to make new ones: the production chains for creating such tanks have long since broken down. This, of course, does not mean that the Russian space industry has forgotten how to make tanks in general. It would be possible to develop, create production equipment and produce tanks of suitable dimensions, and even with best characteristics, but this would require irrational large quantity time and money. As a result, the decision was made to open the tanks, clean them and brew them again. In addition, during 2017, additional parts were manufactured for the module. As a result, the start date was shifted to 2018.

Before the start

Judging by latest news, Roscosmos and Center. The Khrunichevs are quite determined, and at the end of this year (the date was December 6), “Science” will finally take flight. But more recently it became known that the United States has changed its mind about funding the ISS after 2024 ( final decision Americans will become aware of it after February 12), and in such conditions, widespread expectations about extending the station’s operation until 2028 and beyond will not come true. Right now there are two more modules “on the stocks” - the scientific and energy module (SEM) and the hub module, and it would be very wasteful to complete their flight by sinking them along with the ISS. Therefore, talk about a national station has resumed. The existing Russian and American segments of the ISS are mutually dependent on each other - for example, most of electricity is generated by the Americans, and life support is concentrated in the Zvezda module. Nothing good will come from the idea of ​​mechanically disconnecting the Russian segment now. But with two new modules it can acquire the required level of autonomy. The question is whether an orbital station is needed at all now, when NASA is going to build a visitable cislunar Deep Space Gateway. The debate continues, and so far neither side has presented conclusive arguments.

In my personal opinion, orbital stations are still useful. Despite the fact that successive crews have been continuously working on the ISS since 2000, it is too early to say that all possible experiments have been carried out. It is possible and necessary to continue to study what happens to a person in space, and near-Earth orbit, from which a quick return is possible, is excellent for this. The record for the duration of a person's continuous stay in weightlessness was set at the Mir station, while on the ISS the longest flight was 97 days shorter. Much has been said about zero-gravity production, and since 2005 the ISS has been growing protein crystals that grow to large sizes than on Earth. This direction can give interesting and useful applied (i.e. profitable right now) results. Well, don’t forget about tourism. In the second half of the 2000s, several space tourists flew to the station, but this destination last years stalled. The plans of RSC Energia mentioned the creation of a special tourist module, which may well turn out to be both beneficial for the industry and useful for popularizing space.

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. The launch of the multifunctional laboratory module (MLM) "Nauka" to the International Space Station is planned for 2019, the head of Roscosmos Igor Komarov said in an interview published on Wednesday on the Rossiyskaya Gazeta website.

“As planned, from the end of this year three Russians will work on the ISS (currently the Russian ISS crew consists of two people). This is due to the need to commission the new multifunctional laboratory module “Science”, which we will launch in 2019. Module will decide scientific problems and control the orientation of the station. For laboratory research it provides 29 jobs,” Komarov said.

Head of the European Delegation space agency in Russia, Rene Pichel previously reported in an interview with TASS that the launch of MLM with the European ERA manipulator is tentatively planned for autumn 2018. Later it was reported that the module could be launched at the end of the year.

Komarov also said that by 2021 it is planned to launch two more modules on the ISS: a universal hub and an energy module.

“The universal one is ready, it will fly after the laboratory one. This module has six docking nodes at once. By the way, this has never happened before. Then we will send the energy module, which can produce at least 18 kW, completely covering the needs of the Russian segment - so far only “Zvezda” module (up to 13.8 kW), another 2.5 kW will have to be generated by MLM,” he specified.

“By the way, the power module has an impressive volume - 92 cubic meters. For comparison, now our entire segment is a little more than 203 cubic meters, mainly devoted to scientific equipment. So, as a result, the living space for astronauts will significantly increase. Figuratively speaking, we will launch a laboratory, a berth and a power plant to the ISS and ensure complete autonomy and independence of the Russian segment,” Komarov noted.

Module "Science"

General Director of the Center named after. M.V. Khrunichev Alexey Varochko previously reported that the MLM will be delivered to the Baikonur Cosmodrome this year. According to him, the module has been completed, its preparation for sending to the cosmodrome is being completed, but RSC Energia has not yet accepted the MLM.

Nauka began to be built back in 1995; initially it was planned to send the module to the ISS as a backup for Zarya. The launch was repeatedly delayed; in December 2013, he was sent to the Khrunichev Center due to a blockage discovered in the propulsion system. Work on the module is jointly carried out by the Center named after. Khrunichev and RSC Energia.

As the head of RSC Energia, Vladimir Solntsev, previously reported, after the blockage was discovered, Nauka had to be almost completely reassembled. Specialists changed many components and parts of the module, completely replaced the pneumatic hydraulic system, and installed new pipelines.

The launch mass of the MLM exceeds 20 tons, while it can accommodate up to three tons of scientific equipment. The module should also provide a port for docking the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, provide fuel transfer from the Progress tanks to the ISS, and control the station's roll orientation using engines. It should also produce oxygen for six people and regenerate water from urine. With Nauka, Russian cosmonauts should get a second toilet (the first is in the Zvezda module) and a cabin for a third crew member.

MOSCOW, July 7. /TASS/. In the next three years, the Russian segment of the International space station should be replenished with three modules - laboratory, hub and scientific and energy.

The Multifunctional Laboratory Module (MLM) will be the first to go into orbit - at the end of 2017. This deadline was confirmed at a recent meeting held by the Roscosmos state corporation at the Khrunichev Center.

“The work on MLM is proceeding in accordance with the approved schedule, and the launch will take place on the previously scheduled date,” the communications directorate told TASS Space Center them. Khrunicheva.

In 2018, the ISS will be expanded with the “Prichal”, and in 2019, with the commissioning of the Scientific and Energy Module, the construction of the Russian segment of the station will be completed.

After the ISS ceases to exist (its lifespan has been extended until 2024), these three modules can become the basis of a domestic orbital station.

Multifunctional laboratory module "Science"

The most long-awaited and most problematic module. Its creation began at the Khrunichev Center back in 1995, and then it was considered as a backup for Zarya, the first module of the ISS.

In 2004, it was decided to transform MLM into a full-fledged scientific module with a launch in 2007. In 2013, an inspection by RSC Energia specialists revealed a pipeline blockage and sent the MLM back to the manufacturer. There he is still located.

The module will not only solve scientific problems: it should produce oxygen for six people, regenerate water from urine (such technologies were used at the Mir station, and are now used on the American segment of the ISS), and also control the orientation of the station, for example, raising the altitude of its orbit or avoid space debris.

With Nauka, Russian cosmonauts will receive a second toilet (the first is in the Zvezda module), a cabin for the third crew member, who for now has to “stay” with the Americans, as well as a European ERA manipulator, which will allow them to perform a number of jobs without going outside. open space.

For laboratory research, the module provides 29 workstations.

“The design of the module provides for unified workstations - devices for installing and connecting scientific equipment inside and outside the station, thanks to which the module can be adapted to any task. High degree automation of MLM will reduce the number of expensive spacewalks - many overboard operations can be performed without leaving the station,” said the press center of RSC Energia.

MLM functions partially coincide with the capabilities service module"Zvezda", but in appearance it is similar to "Zarya", from which the hull was borrowed. However, as noted by the press service of Roscosmos’ parent institute, TsNIIMash, Nauka is seriously different from Zarya in terms of equipment.

“For example, an onboard computer system, an onboard equipment control system based on a new element base, and additional subsystems of the life support system are installed on board the MLM,” TsNIIMash listed.

Node module "Pier"

The module is unique - it has six docking nodes at once. It was manufactured in 2014 and is scheduled to go into space after MLM. In the meantime, the module is stored on the territory of RSC Energia.

"His creation - big step on the way to implementing the concept of an updated domestic space station with an unlimited resource, the corporation says. “Such products have never been made before in any country in the world.”

The predecessor of "Prichal" can be called the base block of the "Mir" station, which had five docking nodes. The node module should become the same “core” of the future Russian orbital station if the operation of the ISS ceases after 2024.

Science and Energy Module

This module does not yet have own name. It is designed to conduct experiments and provide the Russian segment of the ISS with electricity, which so far has to be purchased from the Americans. Solar panels American segment stations can generate up to 32 kW.

The new Russian module will be able to produce at least 18 kW, fully covering the needs of the domestic segment. While energy for it is supplied only by Zvezda (up to 13.8 kW), another 2.5 kW will have to be generated by MLM.

A distinctive feature of NEM is its volume, reaching 92 cubic meters. This is noticeably larger than that of the Nauka (70 cubic meters) and, especially, the docking Pirs (19 cubic meters). The scientific and energy module will increase the living space for Russian cosmonauts by almost a third - now the entire volume of the domestic segment is slightly more than 203 cubic meters, mainly given over to scientific equipment.

The layout of the module, explains RSC Energia, allows it to be rebuilt for any tasks during flight, for example, adding shelves for equipment or an additional cabin for a crew member.

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Roscosmos is still silent, but it has arrived detailed information about the state of affairs from Anatoly Zak from the USA and from Popular Mechanics (USA).

Let me recall the entire text:

The Nauka multifunctional laboratory module (MLM) of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, which was supposed to be delivered to the cosmodrome for pre-launch checks at the end of this year, may remain on Earth for a long time.

If you omit original plans after the launch of MLM in 2007 (i.e. 10 years ago), in 2013 the module was prepared for launch in December 2014. During tests at RSC Energia, engineers discovered a leaking valve and contamination in the pipelines of the fuel system, the main purpose of which is to deliver the module from the reference orbit to the ISS and ensure docking. After this, the module was returned to the Center. Khrunichev, who performed the main work on this project, acting as a contractor. Experts said at the time that it would take about 10 months to clean up the contamination.

In the years since then, some elements of the MLM fuel system have been replaced, including valves and pipelines, as well as equipment that was out of warranty. However, a few weeks ago, sawdust, previously found in pipelines and causing the launch to be canceled in 2014, was found in fuel tanks. All attempts to flush the tanks in March were unsuccessful.

The fuel tanks built into the MLM module were designed specifically for this case in the early 1990s and have not been produced for a long time, and therefore there is simply nothing to replace them with, if such an operation is even possible. In fact, “Science” has only one hope left. The module was originally designed with a second, shorter set of fuel tanks, but this was later removed to make room for the European ERA robotic arm and some scientific instruments. The return of these fuel tanks (unless, of course, they are also contaminated) gives MLM a chance to still get into space. According to calculations, the fuel from two uncontaminated main tanks and four “short” tanks is just enough to reach the ISS and carry out up to two docking attempts.

Unfortunately, on this moment no one can say for how long necessary work will delay the module launch.

Roscosmos is considering a backup plan in case it fails to repair Nauka. In this case, a special adapter module will be launched instead, to which the “Prichal” node module (UM) will be docked. Unfortunately, due to the proximity to the station, the four side docking ports of the UM cannot be used, but it will still be possible to dock the future Science and Energy Module to the front port.

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