What is the manned space system of the former Soviet Union?

In the whole space science and technology field, from a macro perspective, experts believe that some space technologies of the former Soviet Union are not the most advanced in the world. However, it is believed that the huge space system she established is the most complete in the world today, which embodies the high-tech goal with overall advantages and lays the foundation for modern space science.

If the ground astronaut training center, TT&C center and other service institutions are excluded, this space system includes Mir Space Station test base, manned spacecraft Soyuz, cargo spacecraft Progress, launch vehicle Soyuz and launch vehicle Proton. Relying on these devices, we can start the complex system between heaven and earth, carry out extensive space science research and explore the mysteries of space.

Comprehensive test base of "Heping" space station

The "Peace" space station was launched into orbit on February 20th, 1986, with a mass of 20 tons, a length of 13.5 meters, a maximum diameter of 4. 15 meters, an effective volume of 90 cubic meters, two solar panels with a total area of 102 square meters and six docking doors. There are some types of special cabins and spacecraft that can be docked with it: a large docking cabin with a mass of 20 tons, a diameter of 4. 15 meters and a volume of 50 cubic meters. Among them, the large docking cabin that does not return is 6.5 meters long; The returned large docking module is about13m long, with two solar panels with an area of 40m2 and an output power of 3kW. The dockable small docking cabin has a mass of 7 tons, a length of 7 meters, a maximum diameter of 2.7 meters, and an effective volume of 10 cubic meter. In addition, the docking spacecraft include the TM passenger ship "Alliance" and the cargo ferry "Progress".

At present, the complex test base with the center module of the "Peace" space station as the core has completed the first phase of space docking and assembly, with five modules, including three scientific modules, 1 Soyuz FM spacecraft and main module.

The science modules are quantum 1, quantum 2 and crystal module. The Quantum Astrophysics Laboratory docked with Mir on April 1987+0 1. The last launch of the "Crystal" capsule was in June, with a total length of 1990 and a maximum diameter of 4. 15m. There are five smelting furnaces, one of which is very small and easy to move. All the stoves can work automatically, and all kinds of experiments can be carried out at the same time. Each furnace is equipped with a computer to control the crystal culture process. Smelting furnaces can provide good conditions for a large number of experiments, and the highest temperature in these furnaces can reach 2000 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the prospect of the "Crystal" cabin is very impressive. It is reported that in the first seven months after the "Crystal" module was assembled in the space station, space semiconductor materials worth $654.38+0 billion have been produced. So far, the earth remote sensing module and the earth environment monitoring module have not been launched and assembled. However, the "Peace" space station complex with five modules is capable of conducting astrophysical research and producing a small amount of protein and crystals.

During the service period, this space station assembly can not only change the number of modules, but also change the overall configuration. The special module cabin can also do maneuvering flight and perform tasks alone. At present, the docking port occupied by the cargo ship "Progress" will be used to dock with a large docking module that does not return, while the cargo ship "Progress" will dock with another docking port that does not return to the large docking module.

In order to place scientific instruments and equipment in the central cabin, that is, the main cabin and other cabins, there is a special position. Instruments and equipment can be installed in the cabin or outside the space station. In some cases, the size of the equipment is mainly limited by the transport spacecraft and location.

The stargate darkroom on the space station allows astronauts to take care of the instruments working in the open space without leaving the space station. Instruments and equipment outside the comprehensive facilities are fixed by mechanical fixers. The working process data and experimental results of the instrument are recorded by an automatic recorder, which is a part of the instrument, and the data information can be directly transmitted to the ground tracking station by the telemetry equipment on the station.

The return of equipment with scientific research results will use manned spacecraft. Generally, it takes no more than two days and two nights from the recovery of instruments and packaging to the landing of spacecraft. The size of equipment returning to the ground shall not exceed 450 mm× 240 mm×160 mm.

The air in the "Peace" space station is similar to the atmosphere on the earth, and the temperature is kept at around 20 degrees Celsius all the year round. It is really like spring all the year round. If you don't go out into the open space, astronauts can live and work without wearing spacesuits. Because the space station is far away from the ground to observe the sky and measure the earth, its occupants may encounter various dangers at any time, so a Soyuz TM spacecraft is always parked on the space station to participate in the work of the complex. In fact, he is always ready to carry out rescue missions.

Soyuz TM spacecraft

Soyuz is the most widely used spacecraft so far, and it has entered the fourth year of 10. Karolev, the chief designer of Soyuz, designed several types for it: one is a three-cabin type that runs in earth orbit; One is a bundled two-cabin detector, which is used to verify the technology of flying around the moon; There is also a moon landing type. Soyuz spacecraft used in earth orbit has developed into three generations: the first generation is Soyuz, the second generation is Soyuz T, and the third generation is Soyuz TM. Soyuz was originally used to carry out a three-person single-person mission in low earth orbit, with a flight time of two and a half weeks. Soyuz 10 and 1 1 were used as ferries to salute the space station. After the landing accident of Soyuz 1 1, the former Soviet Union redesigned Soyuz, making it a passenger ferry with a two-person cockpit space station that can only fly independently for two and a half days, namely Soyuz T. Since April 1967, the former Soviet Union has launched 40 first-generation Soyuz spacecraft and launched the second-generation Soyuz T * */ The difference between the third generation Soyuz TM spacecraft and Soyuz T is that it is equipped with a new generation of rendezvous and docking radar, computer, radio communication, emergency rescue, combined engine device and parachute. It is made of light material and can carry an extra load of 200 kilograms. 1986 on may 2 1 day, the third generation alliance TM was launched for the first time and successfully docked with the peace space station on the 23rd. At the end of the 20th century, Soyuz, a TM spacecraft dedicated to passenger transport between the ground and the space station, has been launched 10 many times, all of which were successful.

Soyuz spacecraft consists of an approximately spherical orbital module, a bell-shaped return module and a cylindrical equipment module. At present, it is a passenger bus between the ground and the space station. Before it returns to the earth's atmosphere, it abandons the orbital module and the equipment module, and only the return module returns to the earth. Astronauts have been sitting in the return capsule from the time the spacecraft took off to the time it entered orbit and returned. The internal volume of the return capsule is 4 cubic meters. The original three seats can accommodate three astronauts, but later it was changed into two seats to accommodate two astronauts. There are instruments, navigation instruments and control switches of each system in the cabin to display the working status of each system and equipment. It has a heat shield at the bottom, and there are four cushion landing rockets filled with solid propellant. After the spacecraft is in orbit, astronauts can enter the orbital module to work or rest. The orbital module has a volume of 4.9 cubic meters, including rendezvous and docking system, TV camera, extravehicular activity equipment, astronaut supply equipment and some communication equipment. The equipment cabin is divided into front cabin and rear cabin. The front cabin is the instrument cabin, with telemetry system, main communication equipment and various sensors, and the rear cabin is the engine cabin. The antenna system is installed outside the equipment cabin.

In addition to the radiator of 8 square meters, the outer surface of "Alliance" TM is protected by a heat cover. Most of the life support system is packaged in the orbital module, a small part is in the return module, and the independent part is placed under the recliner. Oxygen cylinders are used in an emergency. Waste management and diet are carried out in the orbital module. The return capsule has enough air, food and water for crash landing for 48 hours. Compared with cargo spacecraft, Soyuz manned spacecraft is expensive because its life support system, thermal protection, control and other related components account for a considerable part of the payload.

The cargo ship "Progress"

The cargo spacecraft "Progress" was modified from the manned spacecraft "Alliance". In addition to the necessary parts of manned spacecraft, it is also equipped with an automatic control system; The landing return capsule is replaced by propellant and oxidant containers; The original place for astronauts to work and rest has become the cargo hold of the "Progress" spacecraft. The cargo ship "Progress" weighed 7 tons when it was launched, with a payload of 2.5 tons, accounting for about 36% of its own weight, and its benefits were quite high.

The cargo ship "Progress" transports the fuel, compressed air, food, water, air regenerators, clothes and postal parcels they need, as well as replacement equipment, instruments and devices needed for experiments, as well as general photography and film. Because of cosmic radiation, this film can't be kept in the space station for a long time.

The "Progress" cargo ship also helps to carry away things that astronauts no longer need on the space station. Although the air lock box can discard waste and garbage, it will pollute the space and lose air. In addition, the airlock can't throw away any big items, so astronauts like to use the cargo ship "Progress" to dispose of their garbage.

The "Progress" cargo spacecraft docked with the space station and unloaded, loaded with garbage, then detached from the docking, started the deceleration engine, and left the earth orbit to fly to the earth. Because the cargo ship has no heat protection measures, it will be completely burned immediately after entering the dense atmosphere of the earth. If there is a little residue, it will usually splash into the ocean.

Soyuz carrier rocket

Soyuz carrier rocket is a three-stage rocket. The first stage consists of four rockets tied outside the lower part of the second stage. Therefore, Soyuz carrier rocket consists of six rocket engines in series and parallel. The launched spacecraft is fixed at the third stage of the rocket, with a fairing outside, and an emergency rescue rocket is fixed at the front end of the fairing. The total length of the launch vehicle and spacecraft assembly is 48.8 meters, and the maximum diameter at the bottom is 10.3 meters. The role of Soyuz carrier rocket in the space system is to launch Soyuz TM passenger spacecraft and Progress cargo spacecraft to the space station. The payload of the rocket can send a spacecraft weighing 6,900 kilograms into a near-earth elliptical orbit with an inclination of 50.5 degrees, an apogee of 450 kilometers and a perigee of 200 kilometers. Engine fuel is a mixed propellant with high boiling point and low boiling point. Facts have proved that the design of Soyuz carrier rocket is highly successful, with excellent reliability and long-term vitality. It has been produced and used for 30 years. Its quality can be compared with the products of DC-3 aircraft and the famous German Volkswagen Company, which have been produced continuously for 25 years. The number of launches of spacecraft by Soyuz carrier rocket is equivalent to the combined number of launches of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle in the United States. On average, the spacecraft is launched by Soyuz carrier rocket six times a year. Because of its long-term use, the launch vehicle has the advantages of large production batch, stable technology and low cost.

Proton launch vehicle

Proton carrier rocket has two forms: one is series-parallel three-stage engine rocket, and the other is improved four-stage rocket. Proton carrier rocket has also been used for more than 20 years, which is specially used to launch salute, peace and special cabin of peace space station in space system.

Proton three-stage rocket, with a total length of 44.3 meters excluding load, can send 2 1 ton payload into a near-earth circular orbit with an inclination of 5 1.6 degrees and a height of 200 kilometers. A four-stage proton rocket can transport 2,200 kilograms of payload to any geostationary orbit, 5,700 kilograms to the moon, 5,300 kilograms to Venus and 4,600 kilograms to Mars. All rocket engine fuels are mixed propellants.

Throughout the space system of the former Soviet Union, all the elements are well coordinated and properly used, showing their respective capabilities. Although the disposable launch system is a means of transportation between heaven and earth, its cost is lower than that of the reusable space shuttle because of its large production batch, stable technology and good reliability.

The long-term operation of this space system has brought great benefits to space science research. For example, astronauts in the former Soviet Union have completed more than 500 experiments on processing space materials and alloy forming, some of which have been produced in small batches in the form of space workshops. The performance of aerospace products is better than that of ground products, and usually has better purity and characteristics. All these successful projects, after turning to large-scale space factory production, can cause great changes in industry. At the same time, astronauts have worked in the space station for a long time, accumulated rich experience and constantly created records of long-term stay in space, which indicates great progress in space life science research.