Space: what to expect in 2013. Private traders

A short note about what to expect and what projects of the space industry should be followed this year. Since this area is now quite actively developing, it is rather difficult to fit all the upcoming events in one article. Therefore, I decided to break it into several parts. The first part tells about private (non-state) companies that are engaged in space.

Nova 2

Starchaser Industries is developing a spacecraft for tourism, code-named Thunderstar, approaching this project from 2 sides - developing a prototype of a Skybolt rocket and a reusable passenger capsule. So, the second part should be run on Nova 2, the largest built British rocket (about 17 meters in height). The two-seat capsule is a pilot and navigator, and for the first launch the navigator’s place is played out among ordinary people. The launch was supposed to take place in September 2012, but, alas, it did not work out, and now Steve Bennett (the founder of the company) hopes for a flight in 2013.

Dream chaser

Dream Chaser is a shuttle-like device (vertical take-off, horizontal landing) for delivering people (up to 7 people at a time) and cargo into orbit, and specifically to the ISS, because there are no other objects for life there. The launch vehicle is not used differently than in Space X, but the standard Atlas V. It will be able to return to almost any airport. NASA is actively sponsoring private companies, and last year, for example, issued over $ 200 million to Sierra Nevada. In the first half of 2013, suborbital rocket tests are planned. Orbital in 2014, and commercial operation - 2016.

SpaceShipTwo

The second generation of suborbital ships from Virgin Galactic. It starts from an already flying mother ship (WhiteKnightTwo) from a height of about 15 km and reaches space at a point about 110 km from the ground. 2 crew members and 6 tourists (and this is precisely a tourist trip, because there is little practical sense in the flight) enjoy a short flight in space and not a very pleasant descent. Despite this, nearly a thousand tickets for $ 200,000 have already been sold. In December, the first flight was completed with mounted engines (before that there were 22 flights “light”), and although the engines were scheduled to be turned off and the plane did not gain altitude, it was just planning, rather optimistic forecasts about the first passenger flights at the end of this year sound.

Cygnus

Another means of cargo delivery (but not people!) To the ISS. NASA, as you know, seeks to switch to commercial flights and get rid of dependence on our country. This unit is another step along the way. Almost Orbital Sciences Corporation is a competitor to SpaceX. And they also use their own launch vehicle (Antares). Actually, this year a very rich program is planned - in February the first launch of the rocket, in March the first Cygnus mission to deliver cargo (550 kg) to the ISS, then 3 more regular flights to the ISS, and during these 4 flights Antares will be developed of 3 stages, with the evolution of the second stage - Castor 30A -> Castor 30B -> Castor 30XL.

Spacex

Probably the most famous private space project. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk (creator of PayPal) and in 2012 made its first commercial cargo delivery to the ISS. In addition to the Dragon spacecraft itself, Falcon launch vehicles are also being developed, designed to significantly reduce the cost of putting payloads into space. In 2013, 2 flights to the ISS are planned - in March and September. In addition to orders, NASA SpaceX is going to do the work from the side. In particular, this year there will be 3 clients besides NASA - the Canadian Space Agency, satellite operators SES and Orbcomm. As launches take place, launch vehicle modifications will take place, such as the transition to the new Merlin 1D engine, first-stage modification, and separation of fuel tanks. In addition, a very important stage for the company will happen - the Falcon Heavy test launch. New heavy rocket capable of delivering up to 53 tons on LEO (instead of today's 9 for Falcon 9), the third stage (boosters) and the transition to new engines (just Merlin 1D, which has already passed separate tests) are added to the rocket design. In addition, the next step will be made towards moving away from our Unions - modifying the capsule (the Dragon spacecraft itself) to ensure the safe flight of people, and although these systems will only be developed in 2013, it will be interesting to observe this. The first full (with emulation of the crew return to Earth) tests are possible only in the spring of 2014. In addition, the next step will be made towards moving away from our Unions - modifying the capsule (the Dragon spacecraft itself) to ensure the safe flight of people, and although these systems will only be developed in 2013, it will be interesting to observe this. The first full (with emulation of the crew return to Earth) tests are possible only in the spring of 2014. In addition, the next step will be made towards moving away from our Unions - modifying the capsule (the Dragon spacecraft itself) to ensure the safe flight of people, and although these systems will only be developed in 2013, it will be interesting to observe this. The first full (with emulation of the crew return to Earth) tests are possible only in the spring of 2014.

Lynx

A suborbital ship that will theoretically fight for customers with SpaceShipTwo. Structurally, it differs quite a lot from the development of Virgin Galactic and is similar to modern airplanes - horizontal take-off and gradual climb (though starting from a certain altitude, the flight becomes more vertical, which is somewhat unlike airplanes) and horizontal landing at a standard airport. It is planned up to 4 flights per day on one device. The price for a passenger seat is relatively low - $ 95,000, and besides you, there will only be a pilot in the device. In addition, Lynx is able to deliver small satellites into orbit. Although, to be honest, it’s a little incomprehensible what kind of satellites are at 100 km altitude. All this happiness will be available to ordinary people in 2014, but this will pass full tests of all systems and test flights.

Excalibur almaz

Our response to bourgeois private companies. Despite the fact that it is registered on the Isle of Man, and the fact that all management is American, Russian participation in the work of the company is enormous. If only because the ship is being developed on the basis of our TKS (70s, 80s). The purpose of the development is space tourism. But there is a rather big advantage here - unlike Lynx or SpaceShipTwo, it is planned to launch spacecraft into rather high orbits, and not provide suborbital flights. Accordingly, the flight time will not be half an hour, but at least a month. The development began not so long ago (the founding date of the joint venture is 2005), but Napoleonic plans are to launch the first tourist flights this year, then build your station from blocks similar in construction to the blocks of the World and the ISS, and in 2015 even suggest that tourists fly around The moon.

ARCA

Another large category of space-based private developments besides tourism and contracts with NASA is Google Lunar X Prize - a competition in designing a lunar rover (and landing module, of course), which would successfully sit down, train and send beautiful photos. The first to run this program will receive $ 20 million. Our Selenokhod also takes part in this competition, which for some reason was taunted in one of the Habr topics. So, ARCA is one of the participants, and it’s quite serious and develops all the associated devices independently (in contrast to the same Selenokhod and many others). It is also important that all technologies do not revolve around one prize, but are applicable in other areas of the space business. And this year, ARCA plans to win the Google Lunar X Prize. For this, 4 components will be assembled together - HAAS II, a three-stage missile, which will deliver the lunar rover to the moon; IAR-111, an airplane starting and landing on water, which is supposed to deliver HAAS II to an altitude of 16 kilometers, and from there launch the main space carrier (waiting for a simple manned test first, and then, together with the launch of HAAS II into orbit); The Executor engine, which is used for both IAR 111 and Haas (tested on a stand, awaiting verification on Haas 2C, test rocket); actually the lunar rover itself. All this looks rather shaky, but so many thought about the sky crane, which worked great. So this is another project that needs to be monitored. and then with the launch of HAAS II into orbit); The Executor engine, which is used for both IAR 111 and Haas (tested on a stand, awaiting verification on Haas 2C, test rocket); actually the lunar rover itself. All this looks rather shaky, but so many thought about the sky crane, which worked great. So this is another project that needs to be monitored. and then with the launch of HAAS II into orbit); The Executor engine, which is used for both IAR 111 and Haas (tested on a stand, awaiting verification on Haas 2C, test rocket); actually the lunar rover itself. All this looks rather shaky, but so many thought about the sky crane, which worked great. So this is another project that needs to be monitored.

PS: those who vote for option 3 (about private project X), indicate in the comments which project attracted attention.