A new module is presented at Energia Space Corporation named after S. Korolev.
Photo: Äìèòðèé Äóõàíèí
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ISS to Have 3 New Modules of Russia by 2011
International Space Station will have three Russia’s modules by 2011, and Russia’s crew will grow to three members by 2009. One of them will be a researcher, Interfax reported with reference to Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) chief Anatoly Perminov.
The U.S. Shuttles (all three of them – Endeavor, Discovery and Atlantis) are due to retire in 2010, Perminov reminded. Russia will have to handle all transport support, as the successor to Shuttles, Orion, is scheduled to fly its first missions to the space station only in 2014. As a result, the ISS transformation into research laboratory won’t be so fast as expected.
European Columbus will blast off in December and the launch of Japan’s Kibo is slated for early 2008. Russia will be also developing its segment at ISS, Perminov said. It will launch a laboratory module by 2011 to operate it at least for five years. New energy modules of Russia will be launched as well.
ISS crew will grow to six members in 2009, and the crew of Russia will step up to three, including a researcher.
Roskosmos accepts no applications from space tourists, Perminov specified, attributing it to higher transport burden on Soyuz after 2010. The space tourism shouldn’t hinder scientific efforts of ISS, the official explained.
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