Development of modules for the ISS tourists and for landing on the moon started in Russia
The space rocket company Energia published a report on a project to develop the ISS tourism module, as well as on the creation of a specialized takeoff and landing module for landing on the moon.
"Work has begun on the formation of the technical appearance of the lunar take-off and landing complex, upon delivery of which to the lunar orbit, a super heavy class launch vehicle will be used," the state corporation's annual report says.
Future plans of RSC Energia include the delivery of a module to a space station located in the orbit of the moon. The station is called Deep Space Gateway (DSG). The state corporation works together with colleagues from many other countries to create the module.
It is worth noting that the station itself will be created within the special program of NASA. At the first stage, it is planned to use it as an auxiliary platform for studying the Moon and deep space. Then DSG will be used as a station for transferring astronauts, traveling to Mars and back. This program will start only next year.
The creation of a near-orbital lunar station will allow astronauts and crews to work out the safe process of human stay in orbits distant from Earth, as well as send automatic spacecraft to the Moon, as well as "work out technologies and elements in preparation for manned missions to Mars."
Last year, Energia employees designed a commercial module for the ISS, which was created for space travel and tourist expeditions. According to the RCM plan, the tourist module, which was named NEM-2, will have four cabins with portholes, two zones for hygienic procedures, plus two portholes for observing our planet and photo and video filming, Internet access, tablet gadgets, etc. .
Space tourists will be able to use the kitchen and sports equipment to keep fit. However, the simulators will be used only in the case of long journeys into space (more than 15 days).
The company expects that the tourist modules on the ISS will provide an opportunity to periodically change the crews of international stations, which will reduce the number of required spacecraft launches and save money.
The development and creation of the Deep Space Gateway space station was scheduled for the fall of 2017 at the summit of the Russian and US space agencies. The head of "Roscosmos" Igor Komarov said that the first modules will be put into orbit by 2026. It is quite possible that professionals of such countries as China, India, Brazil and South Africa will take part in this project, and the construction of the station itself is tentatively scheduled for 2022.