The Russia-Belarus Union State Multifunction Space System

V.A.Menshikov, S.V.Pushkarsky

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center Space Systems Institute

27 M.K.Tikhonravov St., Yubileiniy, Moscow region 141091, Russia

 

Integration of Russian and Belarus space systems is aimed at creating the multifunction space system of the Russia-Belarus Union State. This system will provide technical background for the development of Russia and Belarus joint information sphere, natural resource management, navigation and telecommunications development, terrestrial environment monitoring, efficient transport use and hydrometeorologic forecasting quality improvement.

Khrunichev State Research And Production Space Center Space Systems Institute together with Belarus part developed the Russia-Belarus Union State Multifunction Space System (MFSS) concept, based on the results of a series of Russian-Belarus "Kosmos" programs.

MFSS main applications:

- providing users with monitoring information;

- providing a stationary and mobile objects precision navigation, mobile facilities monitoring and control on the Russian and Belarus territories;

- extension of opportunities for Russian and Belarus sitizens, living far away from large education centers, to study space and rocket science and engineering.

The Russia-Belarus Union State Multifunction Space System will consist of ground and orbital segments.

The orbital segment of MFSS is projected to use advanced Soyuz-Sat microsatellites family with a new generation onboard equipment. The mass of these microsatellites is about 100-120 kilograms. Besides microsatellites the orbital segment of MFSS is supposed to use various existing Russian and foreign Earth remote sensing satellites, navigation, communication and relaying satellites. The Soyuz-Sat microsatellites test flights are planned to start in the year 2012. In the years 2013-2015 the MFSS orbital constellation should be complemented to 12 Soyuz-Sat-O microsatellites.

As the effect of MFSS joint operation Russia and Belarus will achieve a brand new level of cooperation in the space area.

The Russia-Belarus Union State Multifunction Space System will provide the above mentioned applications upon the whole territory of Belarus and a large proportion of the Russia's European territory. The bulk of the Russian Federation territory - Siberia and Russian Far East will be uncovered. It should be noted that these Russian Federation regions possess a huge natural resources. Substantial material investments will be done in economic development of these regions according to Russian Federation Prime Minister M.E. Fradkov. All these factors prompt the necessity of Multifunction Space System coverage expansion to the East.

Concept of the Union State Multifunction Space System on the base of a new generation microsatellites, developed within the framework of "Kosmos-SG" program, it's main design principles and applications may be useful for shaping the vision of Russian Multifunction Space System layout within the framework of Russia's 30-year advanced space program.

In the Russian Multifunction Space System space segment it should be effectually to use scientific-and-technological backup in a new generation microsatellite onboard service and special systems key elements, which will be obtained as a result of Union State Multifunction Space System design works. It makes possible the remote sensing microsatellites development in short time. In farther prospect this scientific-and-technological backup could be used for the development of communication and relaying satellites and, also, future space navigation system.

So far it makes possible building the space segment of advanced Russian Multifunction Space System on the basis of a new generation microsatellites.

Scientific-and-technological backup worked out in the framework of Union State Multifunction Space System design could be useful also for building up International Global Monitoring and Information Multifunction Space System.

The International Global Monitoring and Information Multifunction Space System will be developed in the interests of Earth remote sensing, hydrological, meteorological, navigation, data commuication and relay, global distance learning missions.

The orbital constellation of International Global Monitoring and Information Multifunction Space System is supposed to have three orbital levels:

- low Earth orbit level basically with remote sensing and commuication satellites;

- middle Earth orbit level basically with navigation satellites;

- high Earth orbit level basically with data commuication and relay satellites, meteorological satellites.

The multifunctionality of the proposed Russian and International space systems, which orbital constellation is based on the next generation microsatellites using various orbital levels, provides global, continuous, integrated control over the objects, processes and phenomena on the Earth surface, water, in the atmosphere and outer space. The real-time position and time referenced information will be provided for the users.

International Global Monitoring and Information Multifunction Space System is supposed to find many applications first of all in such countries as our south-east neighbour China, which is experiencing heavy economic growth, India and other South-East Asian countries.

It should be noted that building up the Russian Multifunction Space System and the International Global Monitoring and Information Multifunction Space System will require significant financial expenditures. It will require apart from everything else, in particular, building and orbiting 1-2 geostationary commuication and relay satellites at appropriate orbit positions, because the service area of existing geostationary commuication satellites such as INMARSAT, cover only the European territory to the west of Ural Mountains. These expenditures may be cut down if geostationary commuication and relay satellites will be of microsatellite class.

At the same time, taking into consideration booming South-East Asian economies even the significant financial expenditures clearly will be warrantable.

Multifunction space systems are going to play an important role in the future space industrialization process considering their technological and commercial attraction. Astronautics is turning into one of the most high-technology and profitable branches of modern economy.

 

Menshikov Valery Aleksandrovich, Deputy Director General of Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Director of Space Systems R&D Institute, Doctor of Science (Technology), Professor, Honorary Scientist of Russian Federation, Rocket and Space Technology Honorary Test Researcher, the Member and Corresponding Member of 8 Russian and international scientific Academies. Scientific interests: applied space mechanics, space systems development and operations.

Pushkarsky Sergey Vasilievich, Deputy Director of Space Systems R&D Institute, Candidate of Science (Technology), Member of Russian Space Academy named after K.E.Tsiolkovsky. Scientific interests: space systems development trends study.

niiks@khrunichev.com