Russia wants to become independent from space exploration. First step: the model of your new station

Last July, in the midst of the war in Ukraine, Russia announced its intentions to abandon the International Space Station while promising that it would start building su own orbiting laboratory called ROSS. Now, at the Army 2022 defense event, the Kremlin has unveiled the first physical model of its latest ambitious space project.

The images shared on the Telegram channel of Roscosmos show a model of the Russian orbital service station in its most complete version, that is, with the different modules that would make up this structure designed to house a maximum of four astronauts at the same time for long periods. Of course, unlike the ISS, it would not have a permanent human presence.

Russia wants to have its own space station again

Roscosmos has not said much more about ROSS in Army 2022, but the space agency, through state media, has been telling some details of the project. We know that Russia’s idea is to build its space station in different phases. It would begin to operate with four modules and would later be completed with another two and a service platform.

The new station will be created on the basis of modules that were originally intended to be attached to the ISS. This is being developed by RSC Energia, one of the most important players in the Russian space program and, although they still have a lot of work to do, they project that the first launch will occur between 2025 or 2025.

As far as the development of space projects is concerned, with all the complexities that these involve, times can be dilated. Roscosmos, according to Reutersin aware of this so you have set a deadline for first release in 2030. The next launches to complete the construction of ROSS are planned to take place between 2030 and 2035.

One of the most striking features of ROSS is that they expect it to be placed in a higher orbit than that of the ISS. This would give you the ability to visually cover virtually the entire world for various purposes. In fact, the previous director of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, had suggested that the station could serve a military purpose if necessary.

Rogozin also said in 2021, during a meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos, that ROSS could be used to promote space tourism projects. The next space tourists, he explained, instead of making suborbital flights like those offered by some Western companies, will be able to stay in orbit thanks to the space station.

The project is ambitious and it remains to be seen how it will evolve over time. A not insignificant challenge that Russia has ahead is to deal with the sanctions that prevent it from accessing key technologies for the manufacture of some components. However, it should be noted that it will not be the first space station to be launched from its borders.

In the times of the USSR, the Mir was launched into space, which was the first research space station to be permanently inhabited. It was expected to work only 5 years, but its useful life was extended for more than a decade. It began to be built in 1986, it was completed in 1996. It finally fell in a controlled manner over the Pacific Ocean in March 2001.

Regarding the International Space Station, although it has been in service for more than 23 years, we know that it will still have some more useful life. NASA announced earlier this year that it would continue to operate the ISS until the end of 2030, after which they will make a controlled descent over the Pacific Ocean in 2031.

Pictures | Roscosmos