"During the inspection of Zenith space and rocket system, the FSA director assigned a task to look for new clients for launches, speed up the final-phase equipment of Zenith launch system and enhance the residential area", FSA spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko told RIA Novosti.
According to him, touched upon were the issues of technical condition and more effective operational arrangement of Zenith space and rocket system as well as the scheduled final-phase equipment works within the framework of the Ground Launch program.
Technical and launch units of Cyclon-2 space and rocket system are not employed regularly. "After a comprehensive conversation of Anatoly Perminov with the industrial officials the need of upgrading became clear, and the FSA director gave the necessary instructions with this regard", said Mr.Davidenko.
Anatoly Perminov also visited the Khrunichev Center operations and checkout building 92A-50, unrivalled in the world in terms of technical equipment. Deputy General Director Igor Dodin reported on its current status.
Discussed during the briefing were the issues of establishing a joint Russian-Kazakhstan Baiterek launch system.
Technical condition of the launchers, nicknamed as "five", "Gagarin's start" and "six", was also touched upon. "Problem of maintenance the serviceability of the "Gagarin's start" launcher, operating under the International Space Station program (ISS), was emphasized", Vyacheslav Davidenko pointed out.
According to him, the "six" is in for impending adjustment for Soyuz-2 booster. Unlike the Russian northern space port of Plesetsk, in Baikonur these works will require less time and money. Alexander Kirilin, Director General of Samara-based "CSKB-Progress" space and rocket center, assured the FSA director that the center is working in full swing over Soyuz-2 and in 2006 the flight tests can begin in Baikonur.
In course of the visit to Baikonur Anatoly Perminov inspected the technical condition of the space port's railway system and maintenance works ensuring its serviceability in local transportation of rocket components.
Besides, Anatoly Perminov visited the manned and cargo spacecraft preparation facilities of the Energia space and Rocket corporation.
Zenith space and rocket system is designed for launches of Zenith booster capable of carrying into orbit a payload of 13.7 tons. Both stages of the rocket use nature-friendly fuel components - liquid oxygen and kerosene.
The launch site covering the area of over 113 hectare accommodates two launchers, a cryogenic center and over 50 technological systems. All operations on transportation and installation of the rocket into the launcher, attachment of fuel and other communications are fully automatic. The technical site of Zenith space and rocket system houses an operations and checkout building, booster and spacecraft storage facilities, technical buildings and other installations.
Late in 1980s, the national space programs were seriously reduced. Many new satellites designed for Zenith were not produced. Therefore the founders of the system had an idea to launch boosters from a floating platform. It significantly widens its capabilities by moving the launch site closer to the equator. The project was called "Sea Start". Participating in the project are Russian, Ukrainian, US and Norwegian companies. The first successful launch of Zenith-SL from the Odyssey platform took place on March 28, 1999.
Cyclone-2 space and rocket system is being upgraded jointly by Russian and Ukrainian experts. The program provides for enhancing the energy performance of Cyclone-2 two-stage booster (designed by "Southern" design bureau, Ukraine) by additional equipment with ADU-600 upper stage (developed by the Academician Makeev design bureau, Russia) with necessary adjustment of the launch system and ground infrastructure of Baikonur space port in accordance with the requirements of the world payload launch market.
Starting in 2005 the upgraded system will launch 1500-kilogram spacecraft to the medium altitude sun-synchronous orbits from Baikonur space port.
In 40 years the state research and production center "CSKB-Progress" has developed 26 space systems and seven booster designs including R-7, which became the base of Soyuz booster, as well as Zenith, Yantar, Resurce, Cometa spacecraft. Today "CSKB-Progress" produces Molnia-M, Soyuz-U, Soyuz-FG boosters, which are used for manned and unmanned spacecraft launches. "CSKB-Progress" is developing Soyuz-2 increased yield booster and Resource-DK satellite.
In 2003 a new rocket engine for Soyuz-2 was tested. It has higher propulsive power, which will allow 1.5-time increase of the launched payload.
Soyuz-2 boosters equipped with the upgraded RD-108 engine will be used for commercial launches from Kuru space port in French Guiana.
