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Russia has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for the construction of its newest space station and associated infrastructure on Earth, with the first modules expected to be launched within three years.
On July 2, the leadership of the Russian space agency announced Rose Quartz described their upcoming plans to create the country’s newest space station, currently known as the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), according to the Russian news agency TASS.
The first module of the X-shaped outpost, a research and energy node, is expected to launch into a near-polar orbit in 2027. TASS reportedBy 2030, it aims to have its four main modules docked, with two “special” modules to be attached by 2033. Roscosmos plans to send the first cosmonauts to the space station in 2028 and has suggested that the space station could be operated without a crew.
The Russian Orbital Service Station would orbit at the same altitude as the International Space Stationabout 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, in a polar, sun-synchronous orbit. The route is especially useful for observing the entire surface of the planet, according to Roscosmosand also provides valuable insight into “the strategically important Northern Sea Route.” The estimated cost is around $7 billion USD.
The ROSS construction schedule also depends on the success of the next-generation Angara A5 heavy-lift launch vehicle. Since 2014, it has successfully completed three orbital flight tests, but suffered a partial failure in 2021.
Its construction will also likely mark a first: Russia appears to be piggybacking on the AI hyper-rocket.
“Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly,” Vladimir Kozhevnikov, chief designer of ROS, said on July 2, according to a report from TASS“We will use its support, but in principle we will also use our brains, of course.” What form this AI will take is unknown. Will ChatGPT get a construction credit on ROSS modules?
Another chief designer, Vladimir Solovyov of the space company Energia, has suggested that ROSS will have “unusual” goals, with the space station taking charge of a fleet of satellites – a first.
“This fleet will fly near the station (…) this will also entail brand new tasks for mission control, something that no one has ever tried to do before,” Solovyov said.
Russia has been a key member of the International Space Station since its launch, alongside NASA, the European Space Agency, JAXA and the Canadian Space Agency. For the new station, it is looking at partnerships with Brazil, India, China and South Africa, among other African countries.
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In 2021, Roscosmos indicated that it planned to build its own space lab, a successor to the Mir space station. In mid-2022, following the invasion of Ukraine and increased tensions between Russia and other Western countries, Roscosmos announced that it would leave the ISS program ‘after 2024.’ It has since announced it will remain on the ISS until 2028.
Although the timeline for the departure from the ISS is still uncertain, the schedule indicates that the Russian space agency intends to pursue its own interests and focus on security and scientific development. Roscosmos believes that this is hampered by international agreements on the ISS.
The ISS is The orbit is expected to undergo a planned deorbit in 2030but may remain in operation until commercial stations are built.
