OPSEK

Future Post ISS Space Station

The world orbital manned cosmonautics has come a long way from the first orbital modules to the presently existing International Space Station. Russia has the greatest experience in the construction and operation of manned orbital complexes. Eight space stations were launched here, not counting the ISS. The space station can serve as a spacecraft, a long-term residence for astronauts, a laboratory, a telecommunications center, a workshop, a space port, a refueling base, and a construction site.

The head of Roscosmos said that Russia is preparing to create a new orbital station after 2030, that will include modules that were previously planned to send to the International Space Station. "Now we are starting to create a new orbital station, we already have two modules in reserve, one has already been created, the so-called nodal module, the second is an energy module that will provide power to our new station," Rogozin said on YouTube channel "Soloviev LIVE" on 27 May 2020. “We plan to build up several modules for it: in fact, after 2030, the Russian Federation will be a country that will create a new station,” said the head of Roscosmos.

"We already have two modules in reserve - one has already been created, the so-called nodal module, the second is an energy module that will provide power to our new station. We are planning to add several more modules to it," Rogozin added. The basic module of the new station will be a new Russian scientific and power module (NEM). According to the head of Roscosmos, the module will be ready for operation in 2024. In mid-May 2020, Rogozin announced that RSC Energia, under the leadership of Igor Ozar, who took the post of acting general director, would develop the concept of a new orbital station.

Previously, the nodal and scientific-power modules were planned to be launched to the ISS. At the end of 2019, Rogozin announced that these modules will form the basis of the Russian lunar station.

Energia general designer Yevgeny Mikrin, who died in May 2020 from coronavirus, previously called it expedient to create a Russian orbital station after the completion of the ISS project, without excluding international participation in the project. "It will be possible to transfer all expensive equipment from the Russian segment of the ISS to this station. It will consist of five modules. The first three - MLM (multifunctional laboratory module - IF) , nodal and NEM (scientific and energy module - IF) from the ISS - plus more two new ones. It will have a mass of 60 tons, "Mikrin said.

The media misunderstood the report on the problems in the operation of the ISS, said Vladimir Soloviev, Flight Director of the ISS Russian Segment, First Deputy Director General of the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation. Earlier today, at the RAS Council, he made a report on the state of the ISS, in which he stated the need to revise the terms of further participation in its work and focus on the implementation of programs of national orbital stations. “The interpretation of the report's theses in a number of media outlets is incorrect ... ” said Mr. Solovyov.

There is no talk of Russia's refusal to operate and maintain the International Space Station (ISS) after 2025, said Vladimir Solovyov, head of the Russian segment of the station, Deputy General Designer of RSC Energia, reports TASS. "There is no talk of any termination of the ISS after 2025, just as there is no talk of the termination of partnerships," said Solovyov. He noted that such a decision can be made exclusively at the government level and only after discussion with foreign partners in the operation of the station. He also noted that his report to the Russian Academy of Sciences, where he warned about the failure of most ISS systems after 2025, is purely informational in nature, and his interpretation in the media "is incorrect."

Earlier, Solovyov said that after 2025, an “avalanche” failure of most of the ISS systems is expected due to the fact that a number of its elements have been seriously damaged over 20 years of operation. The deputy general designer of RSC Energia added that after this date the maintenance of the station will become more and more expensive, instead it is planned to launch the first Russian space station in two decades.

The design of the Russian orbital service station, developed by RSC Energia, was presented by another speaker. The station will consist of 3–7 modules with the possibility of crew work from 2 to 4 people. Space tourism is not excluded. Russia's rocket and space corporation Energia on 27 November 2020 announced that it was working on the development of a new multifunctional space station. Russia's own orbital station will consist of three to seven modules unmanned or with a crew of two to four people, said Vladimir Solovyov, first deputy general designer of Energia for flight operation and testing of rocket and space systems. At a conference of the Russian Academy of Sciences on space, Solovyov raised concern about the longevity of the International Space Station (ISS) as certain components have been damaged and could not be replaced. Solovyov, who was also the flight director of the ISS Russian segment, said the station may stop operation by 2025 and the cost of maintaining it may amount to 10-15 billion rubles (132-198 million U.S. dollars).

After 2020, Russia plans to create and deploy in orbit a near-earth manned assembly and experimental complex to support transport operations to the Moon and Mars. China also has similar plans. The US will no longer build manned orbital stations. They prefer manned missions to the Moon, Mars, asteroids.

The concept for the development of manned programs of the Russian Federation, developed by the Khrunichev Center, provides for the creation of a high-latitude orbital station on the basis of or after the completion of the operation of the ISS, according to the presentation of the Center, presented earlier at the 2011 Korolev Readings. The high-latitude station located in the appropriate orbit, unlike the ISS, will allow more intensive research and experiments in the interests of Russia. The developers of the concept believe that such a station could be built in the period from 2020 to 2030.

After the creation of a high-latitude station at the turn of 2037, it is planned to build an orbital assembly and experimental complex (OPSEC) on its basis, which can be used not only as a base for conducting scientific experiments. The project will have a commercial component with the aim of extending the active life of spacecraft, assembling spacecraft for flights to the Moon and Mars.

The Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex (Russian: Orbital'nyj Pilotirujemyj Sborochno-Eksperimental'nyj Kompleks) (OPSEK) follow on space station complex was conceived for development after the ISS program was planned around either the in development new Russian segement module with the First being the MLM, FGB-2 Module “Functional Cargo Block” followed by the Common Node Module NMUM) & the MLM Air Lock Module and the Science & Power Modules SPM-2 and SPM-2 (NEM-1, & NEM-2) It may also be associated with various free flyer modules for materials processing and national security needs. The present plan makes these modules a new part of the ISS program but in the final version it may be a new set of these modular designs updated to the post 2020 time frame as a second generation version of the station elements.

In the past, Russia has planned to detach its segment and turn it into an independent space station called OPSEK - Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex (Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex). However, in 2017 it was confirmed that this option is no longer being considered. In general, the three new modules will increase the internal volume of the Russian segment by about 60 percent. Science and NEM-1 will significantly expand power generation in the Russian segment, ending dependence on additional capacity in the American segment.

Science Power Platform - NEP

Russia is working on the future expansion of its segment of the International Space Station. Expansion of the American segment stopped during the completion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, while the expansion of the Russian segment could resume in the middle of 2020r. Since the launch of the International Space Station (ISS) program in the 1990s, Russia has intended to expand its segment of the ISS. The first proposed module was the Science Power Platform, also known as NEP, designed to provide additional power to the ISS.

It would consist of two parts - a small sealed module and a farm with solar panels, radiators and a robotic arm. Eight solar panels would generate enough energy to end the partial dependence of the Russian segment on solar panels in the American segment. However, NEP was canceled in 2004 due to lack of funding. In the same year, the focus was shifted from it to the new Science module.

First MLM, FGB-2 Module “Functional Cargo Block” [OPSEK]

The first MLM module with the European Robotic Arm (ERA) was to be launched on the Proton-M booster which was expected to resemble the Zarya module of ISS as the starting block. Basically that first block module was believed to be nearly completely built and will be available for a scheduled flight in 2012 based on the present planning. It mass was about 20,700 kilograms with maximum diameter of 4.1 meters and a maximum diameter of 13.2 meters with an internal volume of 71 meters cubed. It was planned to carry up to 60 experiments to be performed on board. This first of new larger modules will require the removal of the Pirs module from it docking port and its subsequent planned re-entry to destruction.

Nauka [Science] - also known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, or MLM - was to be built on top of the unfinished backup for the existing Zarya module. According to plans, this will be the main Russian research module with additional living quarters for astronauts. Science wouldhave solar panels, radiators, and a robotic arm designed for NEP. The launch date for Nauka suffered from delays. In 2013, a leaking valve was discovered that required replacing the valve and removing contaminants from all lines in the fuel system. In 2014, the warranty period for the module motors expired, which required their replacement. In 2017, metal dust was already found in the fuel tanks of the module. The 2019 flight planning schedules to the ISS showed the planned launch date of "Science" in June 2020. However, this date may be pushed back even later due to the replacement of fuel tanks.

Common Node Module NM (UM) & the MLM Air Lock Module [OPSEK]

The intent was to also add a smaller MLM airlock module to the Common Node Module NM (UM). That multiple docking port module launched on a Soyuz booster with Progress M-UM spacecraft carrying a multiple docking port like that of MIR for attachment to the front earth facing MLM, (FGB-2) Module. It was provided with the docking adapter attachment point for the larger modules. The node provides for the existing Soyuz docking berth directly facing earthward as well as a potential EVA Airlock. Progress M-UM weighs 4,000 kilograms and an internal volume of 14 meters cubed and was scheduled for launch in 2013.

The Prichal node, formerly known as Uzlovayamodule, is a spherical docking station with six docking ports, one of which will be attached to the bottom of Science. The berth will allow docking of additional Soyuz and Progress spacecraft with the station, as well as future station modules. The launch of the Berth on the modified Progress spacecraft is scheduled for December 2020. However, the start depended on the launch of the Science module.

Science & Power Modules SPM-2 and SPM-2 (NEM-1, & NEM-2)

The proposed last two (SPM-2 and SPM-2) long cylindrical scientific and power modules were tentatively planned for launch on the Proton–M booster in 2014 and 2015 if the funding was available from commercial and Russian, Federal Space Agency (“Roskosmos”) government sources. The intent of the last two NEM modules numbers 1 & 2 was to provide both power and large research laboratory space for the station and its partners as well as attaining the original purpose of the cancelled for lack of funding habitation Science and Power-supply platform (NEP) module. The larger modules were designed to provide large radiator surfaces for heat dissipation and large solar arrays on the opposite ends of the of the two modules docked 180 degrees from one another horizontally under the existing Russian ISS modules to the earth facing multiple docking port in front of the new MLM, FGB-2 Module Zarya like module. The NEM modules have a general mass of 20,000 kilograms with a maximum diameter of 4.1 meters with an approximate lengthy of 25.3 meters and possibly up to 100 meters cubed internal volume of which 12 meters cubed was habitable volume with 2,500 kilograms cargo capacity.

The October 22, 2005, Russian Federation government approved of FSP 2006-2015 expanded spaceflight development decision was based on the re appearance of the Soviet era like fiscal Five Year Plan (2006-2010) and the next five year plan called the five year Forecast Plan (2011-2015) cycle to Russian Federal Space Agency developments. Soon the Russian Federal Space Agency will replace the present FYP with the 2011-2015 five year plan followed by the 2016-2020 forecast plan.

It has already been stated by the Russian’s that as long as the U. S. supplies power cheaply as a trade off there will be no need to build the last modules for now except in the new post ISS space station program of Russia called OPSEK. Truly this leaves in doubt the fate of these modules in the new Russian Federal Space Agency five year plans of 2011-2015 and 2016-2020. Prime Minister Putin on July 19, 2010 suggested that the completion of the Russian segment of ISS should be accomplished in 2015.

Russia began their (two modules) development after the abolition of the NEP, while the NEM takes over many of the responsibilities of the NEP. Since NEMs would have been designed from scratch, it would be based on more modern systems. By 2019, only one NEM, designated NEM-1, was funded and planned for launch. The design of NEM-1 is somewhat similar to NEP. The module consists of a sealed section, although significantly larger than in NEP, and a leaky section.

The pressurized section includes crew quarters, medical equipment, life support systems and payload racks. The leaky section contains large solar panels, satellite dish, radiators, and external payload mountings. The module contained a generic payload rack system similar to that used in the US segment modules. This will make it easy to replace medical, scientific and sports equipment by the crew.

RSC Energia, responsible for the development of three new Russian modules, completed tests of the NEM-1 pressurized section on June 25, 2018, and the non-pressurized section in February 2019. The tests were successful, confirming that the module will work for 15 years. The two test vehicles will later be converted to simulators for use in a neutral buoyancy laboratory. According to the 2019 ISS scheduling schedule, NEM-1 will be launched by the Proton rocket and docked at the Berth in June 2021 - although many sources point to a 2022 launch date.

Due to the large size of the module, a special fairing is required for installation on the Proton. The fairing will consist of two parts - a lower cylindrical part that covers the leaky part of the NEM-1, and a conical part that covers the upper docking hole. The side of the sealed section will remain open. Wind tunnel tests were conducted on a model fairing back in 2014. After NEM-1 joins the ISS, the expansion of the Russian section will be completed.