During the meeting-interview on 24 May 2006 with editor-correspondent of the "News of Cosmonautics" journal S.Kh.Shamsutdinov, Korolev RSC Energia President, General Designer Nikolay Nikolayevich Sevastiyanov has told about this concept, about the present-day status of reusable Clipper space transportation system and the proposals on development of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS).

Nikolay Nikolayevich, tell, please, about the concept of national manned space navigation proposed by RSC Energia.

The proposals on the concept of Russia's manned space navigation development program were prepared by RSC Energia in the latter half of the year 2005 in order to determine technically and economically sound lines of activities in this area for the next 26 years. The Corporation possesses a more then 45-year experience in implementing the manned space flight programs in cooperation with tens and hundreds of enterprises and organizations of the industry.

As a prime contractor for activities in this area, the enterprise is responsible for execution of the already approved projects, for their rational continuation and evolution.

This has spurred us to develop the proposed concept, which provides implementation of the following four phases of national manned space navigation:

- development of an economically efficient reusable Clipper space transportation system.
- near-earth space industrialization based on ISS Russian Segment development.
- implementation of the Moon program, which initiates the Moon industrialization.
- implementation of manned exploratory missions to Mars.

Phases of Russian manned space navigation development

The technical means of each phase of the program are constructed using already available research, technological and production developments of the previous phases. The concept is aimed at a consequent and phased solution of the task of near-earth space industrialization and research with the subsequent transition to Moon industrialization program and implementation of flights to the Mars.

We realize that the time has already come when the manned space navigation should go to the space industrialization based on the principles of economic efficiency.

The concept of the manned space navigation development program was considered and approved on 14 February 2006 at the session of the enlarged Scientific and Technical Board (STB) held at RSC Energia. Among participants in STB work were representatives of Roskosmos, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), officials of leading enterprises and organizations of the industry, core institutes of higher education of the country.

In session debates spoke:

RAS Academicians B.E.Chertok, O.M.Belotserkovsky, G.I.Severin, I.V.Barmin, Head of Roskosmos Manned Program Division A.B. Krasnov, Progress Samara Space Center General Director A.N.Kirilin, Baumann Moscow State Technical University Rector, RAS Corresponding Member I.B.Fedorov, Space Research Institute Director, RAS Corresponding Member L.M.Zelenyy and others.

The speakers noted urgency of elaborating Russia's manned space navigation development concept for a distant prospect and need for further joint efforts on forming this advanced program, proceeding from the requirements of its balanced character and feasibility, coordination with programs of developing automated space vehicles and launch vehicles.

At the STB session it was proposed to send the materials on the concept to the state authorities for consideration when developing the national space program for a period of 2006-2030 years. The concept was presented also at the scientific conference of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after K.E. Tsiolkovsky, held on 25 April 2006 in Roskosmos in connection with the 15th anniversary of the Academy.

At present it is submitted for updating and coordination to Roskosmos, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the prime enterprises of the industry.

For the full report with detailed charts and captions click here

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