Russian Launch Vehicles and their Spacecraft: Thoughts & News

Excellent news... the SS-19 was a very good missile and they kept quite a lot of them operational as long as they could... this means they can now use them to launch military satellites essentially using obsolete ICBMs to get them into space... this is the peak of recycling... love it.

I posted this in the wrong thread and am reposting it here.

https://en.topwar.ru/180830-v-belo-sinej-gamme-rakete-nositelju-sojuz-2-pomenjali-dizajn.html

Soyuz launch from Baikonur delayed due to launch platform glitch. But the new blue paint scheme looks refreshingly good. Surprisingly, Anatoly Zak doesn't mention it.

The "livery" change is nice every so often.

Daniel_Admassu wrote:But the new blue paint scheme looks refreshingly good. Surprisingly, Anatoly Zak doesn't mention it.

Mr Zak rarely focuses on positives as he prefers to cherry-pick any old reason to criticise the Russian program. He runs a good website and has good insider contacts, but he's a friggin liberal and has 5th columnist tendancies.

Big_Gazza wrote:

Daniel_Admassu wrote:But the new blue paint scheme looks refreshingly good. Surprisingly, Anatoly Zak doesn't mention it.

Mr Zak rarely focuses on positives as he prefers to cherry-pick any old reason to criticise the Russian program. He runs a good website and has good insider contacts, but he's a friggin liberal and has 5th columnist tendancies.

Well, I can't say for sure if he is or isn't a fifth columnist. For what I know, he runs by far the most detailed and resourceful site on Soviet/Russian space program. I have noticed that he occasionally tries to conform to western narratives on political topics. I take those instances as his way of survival as western sites sometimes publish his articles. His website is archaic in design and I don't think it generates much revenue from online ads. Man needs to put bread on his table.

Well, I can't say for sure if he is or isn't a fifth columnist. For what I know, he runs by far the most detailed and resourceful site on Soviet/Russian space program. I have noticed that he occasionally tries to conform to western narratives on political topics. I take those instances as his way of survival as western sites sometimes publish his articles. His website is archaic in design and I don't think it generates much revenue from online ads. Man needs to put bread on his table

That is the definition of a 5th columnist sellout... promotes and propagates enemy propaganda to earn money...

Anatoly Zak living in the USA.
You can find more information about him and a few podcast about the Russian space program on this website.
The podcasts are free of charge.
https://thespaceshow.com/guest/anatoly-zak

It would not matter where he lived, if he did not have the liberast agenda. Critical views are worthwhile if they are honest.

Zak spent a lot of his article space trying to claim that Vostochny was not going to have much value because it would not be
able to host Angara launches. Since Russian railway tunnels are supposedly too narrow. What was the point of this stupid
"analysis" other than to keep with the Goebbels program of repeating Russia = fail.

Good analysis does not become disposable trash after a few years.

I know he lives in the United States and has well placed sources in Russia who I wouldn't say are clandestine. If they are willing to give him information and pictures, maybe Roscosmos isn't too cross with him.

To be sure, he doesn't venture much into politics in his articles. But whenever the Ukrainian space industry or its previous interconnection with Russian rockets comes up, he sticks to the western view of their conflict. For instance he uses the term 'annexation' in relation to the Crimean topic.

But, as I said, these are rare. And considering his overall contribution, I tend to forgive him.

If someone willingly moves to the nation of morons then it stands to reason that they themself are a moron.

He is clearly not into fact checking which brings into question the other things he says or posts.

No need to forgive him... he can do as he pleases... but I am not going to listen to him either.

Not to ruin your private party guys but since when colors of a paintjob of a rocket is considered news? So littles is happening in Roscosmos that now they have to fill the void with this crap? What is next? Technician Ivan Ivanovich from Baikonur finally shaved his moustache, video inside?

I would not rant about it if this was what is happening all over the world, but c'mon while Roscosmos proudly shares footage of repainted Soyuz, Nasa is sharing 4k video with their rover on Mars, CNSA are showing off with first HD pictures of Mars and lunar soil recovered by their last Moon mission...I won't mention SpaceX as this seems to get people arround here act weird, but you get the idea.

Something is worng with Roscosmoss since some time. Yeah they had a huge crysis, they have no money and all that, but 30 years have passed and we still roll with the same "Give them a break, they are recovering from the 90s" The other day they launched a rocket with 38 satelites. How many of these satelites were Russian made or at least were property of Russian corporations/institutions? Sorry but I am with PD here, Rogozin has to go, he was given plenty of time to make a difference but he has not delivered. Year after year after year...

They launch military satellites all the time.  So what?  It barely makes news cause it's Russian mil sats.  Roscosmos deals with more commercial stuff along with ISS.  Two seperate branches.  Roscosmos does also handle making ICBM equipment and the like.

No, they haven't had or done a recent rover project.  What's your point?

Roscosmos biggest projects are right now: Vostochney, New space park and HQ in Moscow, consolidating and centralizing the manufacturing companies of space equipment, localizing parts of semiconductors for space equipment, and starting, testing and what no of Angara production.

These are rather big.  Something that takes years and lots of money.  But necessary to fixing the issue that existed since before end of USSR.

But you wouldn't understand that. It requires critical thinking.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?id=85

BTW, even if Rogozin would be removed, nothing would change because all the major development going on would have to be completed as this was beyond Rogozin himself.

If you want achievements, here is from Jan of 2020:
https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/134527/

This was a big achievement and it was further advancements in Roscosmos owned semiconductor plants.

Russia is working on a new reusable spacecraft
In the next 5 years, the complex will fly into space
https://yandex.ru/turbo/kp.ru/s/online/news/4232356/?promo=navbar&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.com

miketheterrible wrote:They launch military satellites all the time.  So what?  It barely makes news cause it's Russian mil sats.  Roscosmos deals with more commercial stuff along with ISS.  Two seperate branches.  Roscosmos does also handle making ICBM equipment and the like.

No, they haven't had or done a recent rover project.  What's your point?

Roscosmos biggest projects are right now: Vostochney, New space park and HQ in Moscow, consolidating and centralizing the manufacturing companies of space equipment, localizing parts of semiconductors for space equipment, and starting, testing and what no of Angara production.

These are rather big.  Something that takes years and lots of money.  But necessary to fixing the issue that existed since before end of USSR.

But you wouldn't understand that. It requires critical thinking.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?id=85

BTW, even if Rogozin would be removed, nothing would change because all the major development going on would have to be completed as this was beyond Rogozin himself.

It is not abour Roscosmos not having a rover project. It is more about they have no projects at all. Yeah they have a lot of "projects" with 3D renders and stuff, but an actual project, an actual vision for space exploration...it is missing They keep changing their mind every year or so. The projects that were going to be fielded in 5 year time get canceled and new ones take their place that again should be fielded in 5 year time. It is like they just want to be left alone absorbing the government money the best they can, and from time to time they launch something for the sake of showing they are still alive.

If they continue like this they will have nothing to launch from Vostochney when/if they finish it.

Angara rocket family have been in production in testing since 1992 and first launch in 2014...You know how many Angara launches Roscosmoss managed to do after the first one? 2 more.

I dont want to get into Vostochney. After 11 years and 8B US dollars (oficially) it is still far from done. BTW Angara was supposed to fly from Vostochney since 2020. Guess what, first Vostochney launches for Angara now are scheduled for 2023.

Damn, even Medvedev lost his temper and said Rogozin should speak less and do more. And this is something in Putin's Russia.

nemerson wrote:Russia is working on a new reusable spacecraft
In the next 5 years, the complex will fly into space
https://yandex.ru/turbo/kp.ru/s/online/news/4232356/?promo=navbar&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.com

That would be nice to see. But I think that 5 years for an orbital spaceplane is unlikely. Good to see Molnyia keeping alive
and not fading away. There was recent talk of developing a new Buran, this is the same project.

Nomad5891 wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:They launch military satellites all the time.  So what?  It barely makes news cause it's Russian mil sats.  Roscosmos deals with more commercial stuff along with ISS.  Two seperate branches.  Roscosmos does also handle making ICBM equipment and the like.

No, they haven't had or done a recent rover project.  What's your point?

Roscosmos biggest projects are right now: Vostochney, New space park and HQ in Moscow, consolidating and centralizing the manufacturing companies of space equipment, localizing parts of semiconductors for space equipment, and starting, testing and what no of Angara production.

These are rather big.  Something that takes years and lots of money.  But necessary to fixing the issue that existed since before end of USSR.

But you wouldn't understand that. It requires critical thinking.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?id=85

BTW, even if Rogozin would be removed, nothing would change because all the major development going on would have to be completed as this was beyond Rogozin himself.

It is not abour Roscosmos not having a rover project. It is more about they have no projects at all. Yeah they have a lot of "projects" with 3D renders and stuff, but an actual project, an actual vision for space exploration...it is missing They keep changing their mind every year or so. The projects that were going to be fielded in 5 year time get canceled and new ones take their place that again should be fielded in 5 year time. It is like they just want to be left alone absorbing the government money the best they can, and from time to time they launch something for the sake of showing they are still alive.

If they continue like this they will have nothing to launch from Vostochney when/if they finish it.

Angara rocket family have been in production in testing since 1992 and first launch in 2014...You know how many Angara launches Roscosmoss managed to do after the first one? 2 more.

I dont want to get into Vostochney. After 11 years and 8B US dollars (oficially) it is still far from done. BTW Angara was supposed to fly from Vostochney since 2020. Guess what, first Vostochney launches for Angara now are scheduled for 2023.

Damn, even Medvedev lost his temper and said Rogozin should speak less and do more. And this is something in Putin's Russia.

Reading comprehension isnt your strong suit.

Instead of talking dumb and proving to us you are incapable of reading, take lessons and read the links I provided.  This is proof, something you provided non of

We can also mention all the sat launches too.

No projects? Clearly you are jesting. One can't be this dumb.

Here, once again, is a link. Try to learn to read. Speak less, read more. It will do you wonders.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?id=85

Soviet left-overs, eh. Well, what does that make the Atlas then? Aside from Musk's con-man show-boating, what exactly is the
US running on? Flatulence? It can't even get to the ISS without Russian help.

And don't invoke some rovers on Mars as stellar achievements. If they are so challenging, then the USA would have had actual
manned access to space over the last 10 years.

The only shitshow here is your moronic obsession with putting down the Russian space program, PD.

More anti-Roscosmos/Rogozin hate-puke from Jedi Master PD and his new paduan Nomad.  

bah...  can't be fucking bothered this time. Dogs..  caravans...  you all know the metaphor.

The amusing thing is that members of an english speaking forum on a Russia defence page think it is their decision as to whether this or that official has to "go".

Delusions of grandeur aside, multi billion dollar missions to Mars are not a great use of money in the current climate, not sure why some people think a country with a 25 trillion dollar debt and whose solution is sanctions and printing money is doing so well... but the exceptional country never judges its own actions by its own strict morals and ethics.

Rogozin is a manager and that is what he has been doing.

I am actually rather glad he had the balls to say no to NASA to be their cabin boy for their missions into space, and has signed a deal with China to create a moon base and to work together to get there.

Experience on the ISS shows the US is not interested in cooperation except when they get direct benefits from it... ie give us a lift because we don't have any man rated rockets but are otherwise wonderful and perfect and there are no problems here...

The Russians have ridden out the period of excessive subsidies for Musk so competing for space launchers is going to be on a much more balanced playing field now so they will get rather more business.

The companies putting things in space enjoyed massively reduced prices, Musk earned a lot of money but needed the US taxpayer to cover the difference between what they were charging and what it was actually costing, NASA got to pretend they were contracting out and saving lots of money too, but as mentioned no money was saved at all, in fact it was probably rather expensive, but the US taxpayer is used to getting screwed and not saying anything about the waste and corruption.

But now that prices go back up to realistically cover the costs of putting things in orbit the Russians regain their advantage because they do it cheaper.

Most of you are probably not old enough to remember the bullshit about the Space Shuttles... they were going to be reusable... like airplanes... they were going to make getting into space as cheap and easy as flying from one city to another in a civilian jet aircraft.

It never happened.

Their best feature was their safety record... only two losses in how many launches. The raw stats suggested a crash every 100-200 launches so they did very well in that regard, but otherwise it was an enormous waste of money and time.

PapaDragon wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:......
No projects? Clearly you are jesting. One can't be this dumb.

Here, once again, is a link.  Try to learn to read.  Speak less, read more. It will do you wonders.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?id=85

So your rebuttal amounts to you posting link to tag on Russian blog which lists launches preformed using Soviet rockets and random construction projects which are decade plus late?

Maybe you should be spending some time reading?


Russian space program is a shitshow running on Soviet leftovers and one illiterate fat fuck's personality cult

Everything else is as always 5 years away

That's all there is to it

As apposed to what? Nothing?  Why fix something that isn't broken?  All the while the tag I posted (if you bother to read) shows all launches and development.  Might I suggest actually reading the contents of the articles rather than projecting?

How bout the other link I provided, about the development of semiconductors by roscosmos themselves?

Angara is being built and tested. Manufacturing facilities are up and running.  That's a new non Soviet rocket.  Soyuz 2 is an update of the Soviet rocket. They are new built ones as well.  So why does it matter when the rocket was designed?

There is this fixation that somehow, one needs to create something new "just because" when the previous system works fine.

miketheterrible wrote:

PapaDragon wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:......
No projects? Clearly you are jesting. One can't be this dumb.

Here, once again, is a link.  Try to learn to read.  Speak less, read more. It will do you wonders.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?id=85

So your rebuttal amounts to you posting link to tag on Russian blog which lists launches preformed using Soviet rockets and random construction projects which are decade plus late?

Maybe you should be spending some time reading?


Russian space program is a shitshow running on Soviet leftovers and one illiterate fat fuck's personality cult

Everything else is as always 5 years away

That's all there is to it

As apposed to what? Nothing?  Why fix something that isn't broken?  All the while the tag I posted (if you bother to read) shows all launches and development.  Might I suggest actually reading the contents of the articles rather than projecting?

How bout the other link I provided, about the development of semiconductors by roscosmos themselves?

Angara is being built and tested. Manufacturing facilities are up and running.  That's a new non Soviet rocket.  Soyuz 2 is an update of the Soviet rocket. They are new built ones as well.  So why does it matter when the rocket was designed?

There is this fixation that somehow, one needs to create something new "just because" when the previous system works fine.

If everything's going just peachy, just tell me why has the angora been delayed for 3 more years and why are there so few test launches of it? You'll probably say they have to make sure things are right,but this will take unacceptably long if there's single digit launches every decade. What is so extraordinarily complicated in producing more URM modules(like let's say 10-20 modules per year)? You amd others on one hand will brag that the URM modules are based on established straightforward time tested technology which should make production and testing much cheaper and simpler, but will then say the opposite of how the angora is this hyper complex rube Goldberg machine that's almost impossible to build and test due the 90s.

So once again, why are there so few angora modules and test flights and why is it constantly delayed, even though it's supposed to be a relatively iterative design?

Also why is there no talk of the soyuz 5 and federation spacecraft? Why has the federatzlsiyas carrier been schizophrenically changed if the roscosmos operates under a supposedly rational decision making process?

And don't bring up difficulties of western rocket manufacturers. 2 wrongs don't make a right.