[Music] despite the war Russia is aiming for the moon literally [Music] following the end of the Cold War the United States emerged as a dominant force in space exploration however Russia's historical significance in this realm dating back to the Soviet era cannot be ignored in a groundbreaking announcement Russia unveiled the launch of a highly Advanced project that has the potential to transform space exploration Dynamics and pose a formidable challenge to the United States dominance in the field here are 10 recent developments and forthcoming aspirations in Russia's space exploration efforts which could propel them towards a stronger foothold in the competitive space race number one lunar Landing launches in a significant leap towards lunar exploration Russia embarked on a pioneering journey by launching its first moon landing spacecraft in 47 years the remarkable event took place on the 10th of August with a Resolute mission to achieve a soft landing on the lunar South Pole a region holding the promise of precious water ice Reserves this ambitious lunar Expedition marked Russia's return to lunar exploration a realm it last ventured into in 1976. the nation found itself in a riveting race against India which had unveiled its chandrayaan III lunar lander on July 14th and was also locked in competition with global Space Giants such as the United States and China both the latter Nations had laid out comprehensive lunar exploration programs targeting the lunar South Pole for centuries the notion of water on the moon had captivated astronomers despite the Moon being vastly arid with a dryness exceeding even that of the Sahara Desert the year 2018 witnessed a groundbreaking Revelation from NASA's mapping efforts as water ice was identified in shadowed regions of the lunar surface subsequent to this in 2020 NASA further confirmed the existence of water in sunlit areas of particular Intrigue to scientists was the lunar South Pole where enigmatic permanently shadowed craters held the promise of containing invaluable Water Resources envisioned as potential reservoirs these icy deposits could potentially be harnessed by Future explorers serving as raw material for generating breathable air and rocket fuel the Journey of Russia's lunar probe named Luna 25 commenced with the launch of a soyuz 2.1 rocket from the vostokni cosmodrome situated 3450 miles 5550 kilometers east of Moscow the rocket carrying the Luna 25 craft ignited at 2 11 A.M on the 10th of August propelling the spacecraft beyond Earth's orbit and towards the Moon after a journey spanning over an hour the Lander embarked on a trajectory that would bring it into proximity with the moon over the course of approximately 5.5 days the spacecraft was slated to
orbit at an altitude of around 100 kilometers 62 miles for three to seven days before initiating its descent although the designated Landing date was set for August 23rd the mission held broader objectives Beyond a mere lunar touchdown Luna 25 comparable in size to a small car carried a critical mandate to acquire samples of moon rock and dust these samples stood as essential building blocks for comprehending the lunar environment laying vital groundwork for potential future habitation or base Construction in the words of Vitali igarov a prominent Russian space analyst the pursuit of lunar exploration held a greater context it was not solely an exercise in studying the moon rather it constituted a stage for geopolitical competition among superpowers like China and the USA along with several other nations aspiring to assert their positions as space superpowers number two owning a space station amidst escalating tensions between Russia and several Western Nations on Earth the chief of Russia's space agency has revealed an ambitious project the development of its own space station the International Space Station ISS a collaborative effort between Russian and U.S space agencies since its launch in 1998 has long been applauded for international cooperation in space exploration however against the backdrop of what some perceive as an unprecedented fracture with the West due to sanctions tied to Russia's actions in Ukraine the nation is striving to diminish its Reliance on Western partners and establish self-sufficiency or Forge alliances with other countries like China and Iran Russia's space agency roscosmos presented a model of its envisioned space station tentatively named Ross by Russian State media at the Army 2022 military industrial exhibition near Moscow the construction of this station will be undertaken by the energia corporation and is projected to cost no less than 5 billion dollars distinguishing itself the proposed Russian station will orbit at a higher latitude granting it enhanced visibility of polar regions an asset for facilitating access to the Northern sea route the station's development will be carried out in two distinct phases with specific launch dates yet to be disclosed the initial stage involves launching a four module space station that will commence operational activities subsequently an additional two modules and a service platform will be integrated collectively creating accommodation for up to four cosmonauts alongside Advanced scientific equipment roskosmos has indicated that the upcoming station will offer Russian cosmonauts and expanded Earth observation field compared to their current segment enabling more comprehensive monitoring while blueprints for some components are already in existence ongoing design work is shaping the remaining segments as reported by Russian State media the launch of the first phase is targeted for the years 2025-26 with the second and final stage set to follow between 2030 and 2035. number three exploring Mars Russia's pursuit of a Mars mission has spanned years marked by both notable Ambitions and challenging setbacks a pivotal Endeavor was Mars 96 in 1996 representing one of the most audacious planetary missions ever undertaken globally the mission encompassed an intricate array of components a fully equipped Orbiter two Landers each carrying seven instruments and two penetrators furnished with 10 instruments each despite its Visionary scope Mars 96 joined a series of unfruitful Soviet and Russian Endeavors tracing back to 1960. the aftermath of the mission's failure compelled introspection not solely within Russia but also within several European nations contributing High Caliber scientific instruments among them Germany provided Advanced cameras while France contributed an Imaging spectrometer Russia confronted pivotal choices would they persist in Planetary Exploration specifically targeting Mars a Celestial body of Fascinations spanning four decades their resilience spoke volumes as subsequent Mars missions remained on their agenda Phobos grunt a subsequent Mission emerged as Russia's first Endeavor to deploy scientific instruments on Martian terrain since the ill-fated Mars 96 mission however its 2011 launch ended in disappointment yet this setback didn't stifle Russia's determination swiftly following the original Phobos grunts Misfortune Russian scientists voiced their unwavering intent to Embark anew their determination was fueled by over a decade of meticulous preparations to retrieve soil samples from the enigmatic Martian Moon by June 2012 Russia's space scientists cautiously envisioned a Revival for seeing the possibility of a Phobos grunt re-flight within the 2020-2022 time frame Russia's aspirations extended Beyond Phobos grunt's Revival entwined with the exomars initiative this combined effort was projected to establish a foundation for a robust International campaign aimed at procuring soil samples from Mars as early as 2024 or shortly thereafter Russia's persistence toward exploring Mars not only rekindles its own Ambitions but also brings the nation closer to asserting a formidable presence in the global space race number four developing new rocket engines Russia's Mastery of rocket engine technology highlighted by the creation of the rd-170 stands as a significant stride in the realm of space exploration the rd-170 developed by NPO energomash is unrivaled in power and weight among liquid fuel rocket engines globally this remarkable creation was tailored for integration with the energia launch vehicle with its four combustion Chambers fueled by kerosene and lox oxidizer all driven by a single shaft single turbine turbo pump boasting a staggering 170 MW the rd-170 harnessed a staged combustion cycle while designed for 10 reuses rigorous testing demonstrated its capacity to endure up to 20 Burns showcasing the engine's remarkable durability in tandem with this achievement in ergomash research and production Association recently unveiled the rd-171 MV a new iteration of a liquid-fueled rocket engine Ross Cosmos affirms that the rd-171 mv's thrust surpasses 800 tons solidifying its status as the world's most potent liquid propellant rocket engine energomash anticipates completing construction of the rd-171 MV for a second carrier this year with plans for a third engine underway the organization's successful creation and testing of two additional Rd 171 mvs underscore its commitment to refining the technology with more than two dozen fire tests conducted thus far simultaneously Russia's space entity Ross Cosmos has made a striking declaration amidst escalating Global sanctions it announced the discontinuation of rocket engine sales in the United States while the majority of U.S rocket launches remain unaffected this move predominantly impacts the United launch Alliance and Northrop Grumman these two entities integral to NASA and the U.S Department of Defense
rely on Russian rocket engines manufactured by NPO energomash for their vital missions including ISS resupply this development shows Russia's strategic leveraging of its technological prowess in the context of international relations potentially propelling the nation closer to a decisive position in the ongoing space race number five developing reusable spacecraft Russia's strides in space technology are poised to make a substantial impact with the creation of the oriole spacecraft designed to be reusable and capable of accommodating up to six individuals the spacecraft is primed for delivering both Crews and cargo to space stations orbiting close to Earth Oriole assumes a pivotal role not only in bolstering ongoing lunar exploration but also in elevating Russia's standing in the Space Race anticipated to launch from the vastashni cosmodrome in 2028 the inaugural flight of oriole marks a significant Milestone during this unmanned test flight the spacecraft is set to dock with the Russian space station solidifying its capabilities the forthcoming years hold essential mock-up tests for the Oriole spacecraft scheduled for 2024-2025 at the vastocchini cosmodrome with each development Russia's Endeavor to create a reusable spacecraft propels it closer to the Forefront of space exploration signifying its commitment to advancing technology and reshaping the Dynamics of the space race number six embarking on Space tourism Russia has been at the Forefront of space tourism since 2001 marking a historic Milestone as the first country to welcome a paying space tourist the trailblazing journey unfolded when Dennis Tito an American entrepreneur penned a 20 million dollars ticket to board a soyuz spacecraft embarking on a remarkable week-long sojourn aboard the International Space Station ISS after a long break spanning a decade Russia's State space Corporation roscosmos has reignited its space tourism Ambitions the blueprint envisioned sending two paying tourists on a brief flight to the ISS using the country's soyuz spacecraft slated for 2023 a striking facet of this endeavor is that one of the tourists will engage in a spacewalk alongside a seasoned Russian cosmonaut a feat never before accomplished by a private individual visiting the ISS of the select few who have ventured into space as tourists none have experienced the astonishing activity of a spacewalk the intricate process of space walking necessitates rigorous pre-flight training while the cost of this extraordinary Journey remains undisclosed the prospect of a private citizen conducting a spacewalk epitomizes a Monumental stride in private space flight this endeavor not only underscores Russia's commitment to pioneering New Dimensions of space exploration but also underscores its potential to seize the lead in the race to redefine the boundaries of Human Experience beyond our planet number seven space debris removal in a Resolute move the Russian space agency has unveiled an ambitious plan allocating two billion dollars to tackle the burgeoning issue of space debris at the core of this Innovative strategy lies the conception of a pioneering orbital pod meticulously designed to rid Earth's vicinity of the orbiting remnants of defunct satellites and other debris although specific details about the operational mechanics of the cleaning satellite remain shrouded in mystery it is projected to operate with nuclear power and boasts a formidable lifespan of up to 15 years energia the Russian company spearheading the cleaning satellites development aims to achieve operational Readiness by 2023. Victor senyavsky an executive from energia sheds light on the scale of the problem by estimating the existence of around 600 non-functional satellites currently encircling the planet energia's promise is to affect a comprehensive cleanup within a decade corralling approximately 600 derelict satellites from the same geosynchronous orbit and subsequently dispatching them into the depths of the oceans however the predicament extends beyond the larger satellites as a multitude of smaller fragments accumulated over Decades of space exploration exacerbates the issue energia's proactive approach transcends mere cleanup the company is also engineering a space Interceptor geared to neutralize hazardous space objects hurtling toward Earth effectively mitigating potential threats Russia's pursuit of a cleaner Cosmos carries profound implications envisioning not only a remedy to the current state of space clutter but also the prevention of further degradation this strategic intervention stands to revolutionize the realm of space exploration fostering a safer and more sustainable Celestial environment for future endeavors number eight satellites launches while the Soviet Union pioneered satellite launches in 1961. Russia is now embarking on a multi-faceted strategy to propel the nation to the Forefront of space exploration with a multi-faceted approach encompassing communication navigation and Earth observation recent developments show Russia's commitment to enhancing its satellite constellation a significant Milestone was reached on August 7th when the Russian Federal space agency launched glonass K2 number 13. a global positioning satellite into medium earth orbit the objective behind this launch is to augment the Precision of Russia's dual-use global positioning system a crucial asset for navigation these glonis K2 satellites epitomize cutting-edge design boasting navigation accuracy within 30 centimeters and introducing a novel navigation signal strategy elevating both military and civilian user capabilities Russia's satellite advancements extend to Earth observation as well the Condor FKA satellite launched on May 29 represents Russia's foray into all-weather satellite technology developed by the NPO machino stroyania Corporation this satellite leverages Advanced space Technologies to address the nation's socioeconomic challenges designed for continuous Earth surveillance the Condor FKA satellite delivers a comprehensive view of Continental regions and oceans with applications ranging from environmental monitoring to Resource exploration the Strategic plan for satellite launches continues with the Condor satellite series dedicated to Earth observation missions scheduled for deployment in 2024 the second satellite of this kind will be followed by two more in 2029 and 2030. these satellites are poised to redefine our understanding of Earth's Landscapes facilitating surface mapping and environmental assessments Russia's robust satellite initiatives stand to revolutionize space exploration positioning the nation as a front-runner in technology navigation precision and Earth observation by fortifying its capabilities across these domains Russia inches closer towards space Supremacy number nine International cooperations in a strategic move with far-reaching implications Russia's space agency is extending an invitation to its Partners within the brics group Brazil India China and South Africa to partake in the collaborative construction of a joint module for its forthcoming orbital Space Station this proposition gains significance as it follows Russia's decision to end its long-standing partnership with NASA and withdraw from the Aging International Space Station ISS which had been one of the few remaining Avenues of cooperation between Russia and the United States the ambitious Endeavor named the Russian orbital system Ros is unfolding in stages the first phase slated for launch in 2027 is set to be followed by the deployment of four additional modules in orbit between 2028 and 2030. spearheaded by Vladimir kojevnikov the program's chief designer this undertaking holds the potential to redefine the landscape of space exploration Yuri borisov the director general of Ross Cosmos extended this invitation during a meeting in hermanus South Africa marking a pivotal moment in international collaboration The Cooperative ethos of the project further extends to African nations as borisov mentioned offering them the prospect of creating their own modules within the Ros framework Russia's inclusive approach underscores its willingness to cooperate with Nations beyond the brics group emphasizing an openness to Partnerships that transcend Geographic boundaries the ros's initial crew complement of two astronauts sets the stage for enhanced responsibilities and broader duties compared to those on the ISS signaling a shift toward maximizing efficiency and potential in space endeavors Russia's drive to create a new orbital station reflects its strategic commitment to advancing space flight Technologies not just for its own Ambitions but also for the broader pursuit of human exploration beyond our planet with International collaboration at the Forefront this initiative could Propel Russia to the Forefront of the Space Race not solely through technological innovation but by fostering a global Cooperative spirit that redefines the possibilities of space exploration for the future number 10 developing military applications while Russia publicly supports space Arms Control agreements to prevent the weaponization of space its actions reveal a more complex reality Russia has declared space a war fighting domain demonstrating a commitment to developing and deploying space-based Weaponry in 2015 the creation of the Aerospace forces a branch of the Russian Armed Forces included the space forces dedicated to safeguarding Russia's access to space the pursuit of counter space capabilities capable of targeting adversaries like the United States underscores Russia's perspective aligning with China's belief in the Strategic significance of space in military operations in a significant event just two years ago Russia tested and showcased its anti-satellite weapon ASAT system by obliterating an inactive satellite at an altitude of approximately 300 miles above the Earth's surface this action resulted in the creation of debris that will endure in Earth's orbit for an extended period the international response was Swift and Stern with accusations of recklessness and endangerment of critical active satellites including the International Space Station and the nascent Chinese space station the timing of Russia's ASAT demonstration raises questions about its motives displaying technological prowess before the establishment of comprehensive International regulations serves dual purposes bolstering National Security and projecting geopolitical influence by showcasing its ASAT capability early on Russia not only strengthens its defense capabilities but also positions itself as a key player in shaping potential International regulatory Frameworks beyond the satellite destruction Russia has been actively testing various anti-satellite Weaponry both airborne and space-based over the past decade the development of the Paris vet mobile ground-based laser weapon system capable of disrupting or disabling satellites further highlights Russia's focus on counter space strategies Advanced electronic warfare capabilities encompassing communication jamming and control system deactivation further underscore Russia's strategic emphasis on Space operations Russia's approach to space extends Beyond immediate military applications their commitment to developing counter space strategies underscores their recognition of space as a potent strategic asset vital to achieving power projection thanks for watching for more mind-blowing videos click on the next video that pops up on your screen
2023-09-06