Turning Away from NASA, Russia Announces New Space Strategy

Russia is developing a new space strategy to replace the International Space Station, or ISS, in 2020 and has tapped the Chinese, Indian and European space agencies as potential partners as it pursues lunar and deep-space exploration projects.

Source : www.themoscowtimes.com...

Exactly how do they plan on funding this? Everything in that country is at least 30 years old technology that is out dated and worn out. I can't beleive the Seuze actually works still, that thing is a step backward from Apollo.

Man, the politicking is spiraling into a cold war 2.0 (reprise). Power plays abound, gotta love the theater of it all.

"We don't need your space program anymore, anyway!" -Russia

China is loving it, no doubt.

Still, serious questions linger for the long obsolete marionette theater called NASA and the future of space exploration. How will Americans get back from the ISS without a shuttle, Russia's help, and space X's contribution still years away? Pass the popcorn.

originally posted by: SixX18
Exactly how do they plan on funding this? Everything in that country is at least 30 years old technology that is out dated and worn out. I can't beleive the Seuze actually works still, that thing is a step backward from Apollo.

Unless you are not already aware... Russia has been a member of the ESA (European space agency since 1995) and have contributed quite actively... you should not just rely on sterotypical ideologies. :

The ESA Moscow Office represents ESA in Russia at all relevant levels and facilitates close cooperation between ESA and Russia. The Office follows up and reports to ESA about the development and implementation of Russia’s space policy. Its primary objective is to foster cooperation between Europe and Russia in space at political and programme levels, as well as to ensure close links between ESA and Russian organisations at the technical level.

To this end, the Moscow Office maintains close working relations with Russian governmental bodies, with the representatives of ESA Member States in Russia, and with the Delegation of the European Commission.

Link here : www.esa.int...

Over the past two decades, relations between ESA and Russia have evolved into a close partnership in virtually all areas of ESA activities, including

human spaceflight
space science and exploration
launchers
Earth Observation
telecommunications
applied space science and technology
navigation

ESA’s counterpart in Russia is Roscosmos, or the Federal Space Agency.

It all began in 1991 with the signature of the ESA-Russia Framework Agreement on Cooperation.

Today, the cooperation is based on an Agreement between ESA and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation and Partnership in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, signed by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and ESA’s Director General in Paris on 11 February 2003.

In the frame of the partnership agreement, other more specific agreements have emerged: for example, agreements on the implementation of Soyuz launches from the Guiana Space Centre (2005) and on cooperation in research and technology development for future launchers (2005).

Earlier relevant agreements comprise International Space Station (ISS) Flight Order Contracts concerning the implementation of ISS flight opportunities involving ESA astronauts (2001, 2002, 2003 (2), 2005 (2)), a contract on the integration of the ESA Automated Transfer vehicle (ATV) into the Russian segment of the ISS (1999), the ISS Intergovernmental Agreement (1998), an arrangement on cooperation in the development and operations of the Service Module Data Management System (DMS-R) for the Russian segment of the ISS and of the Russian Docking System (1996), an arrangement on the development and utilization of the European Robotic Arm (ERA) for the Russian ISS segment (1996), and a Frame Agreement for the Launch, Operation and Retrieval of ESA Microgravity Multi-User Facilities and Experiments (1996).

30 years outdated you say?

Kindest respects

Rodinus

originally posted by: Degradation33
Man, the politicking is spiraling into a cold war 2.0 (reprise). Power plays abound, gotta love the theater of it all.

I think you nailed it. Theater. Its all about the show of power. Reminds the people not to challenge them.
think Greece, Spain, Arab Spring, Thailand(Now).

Don't challenge the status quot is the distinct message i have been getting lately.

Just my opinion, you can take it with a grain of salt.

originally posted by: Degradation33
How will Americans get back from the ISS without a shuttle, Russia's help, and space X's contribution still years away? Pass the popcorn.

With the manned Dragon space capsule of coSpaceX to Unveil Manned Dragon Capsule

Or the Boeing CST-100 coming a bit latter.

Better question is what will America do without the First stage of the Atlas 5? We do not have a first stage replacement and Russia builds the current one.

a reply to: Rodinus

I am usually all for bashing the Russians, it is an old American tradition.

Your right here though Rodinus, the Russians have far more experience in making and maintaining space stations than we do, remember how long Mir was up there before the ISS?

They also are smart enough to have a viable space program without cancelling their only good launch vehicle without a suitable replacement.

originally posted by: SixX18
. I can't beleive the Seuze actually works still, that thing is a step backward from Apollo.

It called SOYUZ and its not as backward as it seems. Its been constantly updated and refitted since it entered service and it proven to be a simple yet reliable taxi,

My thoughts?

This is a fake "space race". Russia wants to advance their space program, and so does the USA. Well, actually the USA probably realizes with commercial space programs gearing up, they won't be able to hide their secret space program forever.

So, instead of saying, "Hey everyone, the ISS and shuttle programs were just distractions" -- we'll get leaps and bounds of advancement in space tech in the next 30 years. The Russians will provide the sense of urgency the American people need to support and back more spending in space.

This whole thing, going back to the cancellation of the shuttle program seems very well planned and staged.

If im not mistaken the ISS has escape pods that can be used in an emergency to return to earth. I dont think it will get to that but by no means are they trapped there because of our fighting with russia.

a reply to: SixX18

With money you know those things the usa do not have.

How has the US/Russia relationship deteriorated so quickly?

Decades of cooperation in space exploration and technology seem to be coming to a sudden end under Obama's watch.

Give that man another Nobel peace prize!

originally posted by: awakehuman
Russia is developing a new space strategy to replace the International Space Station, or ISS, in 2020 and has tapped the Chinese, Indian and European space agencies as potential partners as it pursues lunar and deep-space exploration projects.

Source : www.themoscowtimes.com...

Here's how that plays out.

Chinese partner with Russia on "space cooperation". Pretty soon a clone of a Russian rocket factory is running in China. China alters the deal. Russia prays they don't alter it further.

originally posted by: Deny Arrogance
How has the US/Russia relationship deteriorated so quickly?

Putin is an asshole and finds it politically advantageous domestically.

A space race is actually the best thing that can happen right about now.

It will encourage a lot of R&D that will trickle down into consumer electronics like the previous space race did.

It will likely encourage a whole generation of kids to become scientists and engineers.

And it MIGHT just make the US understand that space exploration and development is a key part of the future.

~Tenth

originally posted by: Xeven
Better question is what will America do without the First stage of the Atlas 5? We do not have a first stage replacement and Russia builds the current one.

SpaceX Falcon heavy will be a similar RP-1/LOX booster with 2-3x the lift of Atlas 5 and probably a similar price.

Delta IV Heavy is made with American Rocketdyne engines and has a similar to greater performance as the Atlas series though I think it's more expensive.

The duopoly of LM and Boeing seriously raised their prices recently.

www.spacenews.com...

SpaceX will slash through that fat. Falcon 9 v1.1 can already lift thesame capacity to LEO as midrange Atlas 5 versions.

originally posted by: neversaynever
a reply to: SixX18

With money you know those things the usa do not have.

We have plenty of money. It's just the majority of it is tied up in the military industrial complex.
We need a new space race. The wealth to be gained from space exploration is reason enough.

It's been almost 50 years since man first walked on the moon. We haven't been back or further, since.
We need to push out.

a reply to: Degradation33

SpaceX's manned Dragon module should absolutely be fast tracked, IMO. I recall reading that they were going to do a manned test later this year? I may be misremembering a later date for the test.

They fly it, pressurized, now on resupply missions to ISS. It's a proven technology, Dragon is America's best chance of getting back into the manned space game.

a reply to: Deny Arrogance

I'm not a fan of Obama's, but it's probably worth noting that he's not the one who annexed Crimea.

originally posted by: SixX18
I can't beleive the Seuze actually works still, that thing is a step backward from Apollo.

The Soyuz spacecraft has a big advantage over Apollo - it's larger, lighter and cheaper.

By moving as much equipment as possible into the orbital module, which does not have to be shielded or decelerated during atmospheric re-entry, the Soyuz is both larger and lighter than the contemporary Apollo spacecraft's command module. The Apollo command module had more than six cubic meters (6.2 m³) of living space and a mass of 5000 kg; the three-part Soyuz (command, orbital and service modules) provides the same crew (since the Soyuz T in 1980) with more than seven cubic meters of living space (5 m³ in OM, plus 2.5 m³ in RM), an airlock, and a service module for the mass of the Apollo capsule alone.

en.wikipedia.org...

Besides, why wouldn't the Soyuz work now if it has been working very well all this time? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.