FARNBOROUGH. July 19 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian RKK Energia Rocket and Space Corporation has developed a manned space exploration concept for the next 25 years.
"The concept envisions four development states. The first on consists in developing a highly efficient transportation system, comprising the Clipper shuttle, the upgraded Soyuz spacecraft, and a ferry spacecraft, designed to deliver cargo to the ISS," RKK Energia President Nikolai Sevastiyanov told Interfax-Military News Agency at the ongoing Farnborough 2006 air show on Wednesday.
According to him, the second stage envisions an industrial development of the near-Earth space, based on the Russian sector of the ISS. The third stage encompasses the industrial development of the Moon, and the fourth one envisions a manned expedition to Mars.
"The manned space exploration concept for the next 25 years has been submitted to the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Russian Academy of Science for consideration," Sevastiyanov said.
"At the present time the space industry suffers from a considerable personnel turnover. We have to employ young experts to remain competitive in the market. Young experts will only be willing to work for us, if new ambitious space exploration programs are in place," Sevastiyanov said.
He noted that ambitious projects meant economically efficient ones, such as the Yamal satellite development, embraced by RKK Energia.
"We have started researching the issue of recovering the isotope of helium III for future thermonuclear power stations. Space and nuclear industries merge in this project, which is only logical. The space and the nuclear industries have solved the problems of safety and security, and they now face the issue of power supplies, which determine the future of the entire civilization," Sevastiyanov said.
"Our second objective consists in removing environmentally-hazardous industries to the Moon. The number of such industries increases every year, thus, the issue is very urgent," Sevastiyanov said.
In addition to that, the Moon exploration program envisions establishing observatories and other facilities on the Moon.
"As far as technologies are concerned, we can land cosmonauts on the Moon by 2015. The upgraded Soyuz spacecraft, expected to become operational by 2010, will be able to fly around the Moon in 2011. It will be fitted with boosters, developed by RKK Energia. Within the following four years we are ready to carry out landings, similar to those, conducted under the Apollo program," Sevatiyanov said.
At the same time he regretted the fact that the Moon exploration program had not been included in the Federal Space Program. "Nevertheless, I would like to reiterate that we are ready to pursue the Moon landing project," he said.