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Russia Stands Ready for Manned Flights to Mars
Manned space missions to the Moon may resume in 2015-2020, Anatoly Perminov, head of the Federal Space Agency of Russia (Roskosmos) announced Wednesday. Man-controlled flights to Mars will begin in 2030.
The U.S. space program requires that starting from 2020 the Moon is to become a nesting place for flights to other planets, including Mars. To this effect, manned space missions to the Moon will resume in 2015.
Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan are pressing ahead with the space programs focused on the Moon/Mars flights. At first, it is necessary to master space assembly. Then, flights to the Moon and Mars could be planned, Perminov pointed out.
Federal Space Agency launches in 2006 the simulation stage of its Mars-500 project, which financing started in March of 2005. The project is carried on in line with the national space program of arranging manned missions to Mars and sets forth assembly of a spaceship that will simulate space environment.
Starting from 2006, six volunteers, from 35 to 55 years old, perhaps from different countries, will be confined to a module spaceship 500 days long. The experts will study response of a human body and equipment operation in conditions close to the Mars flight.
Though the Agency's press service declines to disclose the project budget, the sources say 18,268.63 million rubles will be allocated for the federal space program in 2005 from the 25,156.40-million ruble budget of the Agency.
The Agency studies all chances to apply nuclear facilities in the Mars flights. Perminov said some projects are existing, including the project of Russian scientist Evgeny Velikhov. Such units were created and put in operation, but the projects were terminated due to the lack of funds. Still, there are research institutes in Russia that proceed with developing similar facilities, Perminov pointed out.
Perminov also called for the 29.7-percent increase in financing Russia’s space industry in 2006 compared to 24 billion rubles planned for that purpose. The funds are needed to commission 26 space vehicles finished by 80 percent-90 percent to-date.
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