Space activity for the development of Russia

G.G.Raykunov

Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering

 

Today's Russia is one of several world nations possessing unique rocket and space potential applied for solving large-scale problems of the country's social and economic development, science, national business and international partnership (fig 1). For the years of national cosmonautics development we have created a unique orbital and ground infrastructure enabling to solve the problems of space information acquisition and processing, develop and operate spacecraft, fulfill unique fundamental LEO investigation programs as well as implement science-intensive projects in the related economy branches. Currently the agenda includes an equally complex task, i.e. creation of the most efficient system of transferring space activity products to end users - Russian regions, ministries and departments, corporations, private companies, individuals of the Russian Federation and customers on the international space market. Any activity type signifies only when it brings concrete applicable fruits.

The Federal Space Agency and the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH) in particular do their best to ensure development and failure-free operation of the first link, i.e. the national orbital grouping of social-economic and scientific spacecraft as well as the ground infrastructure supporting the former's functioning.

The Federal Space Program of Russia for 2006-2015 envisages a planned recovery and buildup of the Russian space earth remote sensing (ERS) system for solving the problems of meteorology, ocean observation, nature management, ecology monitoring, mapping support and emergency monitoring. The space ERS systems in particular help exercise the hydrology situation control in the hydro-electric plant areas, predict probable destructions of power engineering constructions and communication lines by recording land subsidence.

The basic coordinate/time and navigation support system of Russia is the GLONASS space navigation system. It is used for navigation fixing irrespective of year or day time and meteorological conditions over the whole Russian territory.

Russia takes part in development and operation of the International Space Search & Rescue System COSPAS-SARSAT. According to the international obligations the Russian segment comprises two space vehicles and three ground DAQ stations. By now 5737 rescue operations have been fulfilled, over 20 thousand people have been saved of them over 1000 citizens ofљ Russia and CIS countries. An ever important and responsible activity area includes the works performed onboard ISS Russian segment. Russia saved and continues gaining the unique experience of human exploration of near earth space and in the future Russia will renew autonomous investigation of the Solar system planets.

Let us note that from the point of view of space activity contribution to the national economy the space assets utilization for realizing national projects is of a great interest.љ Concerning each of these projects the following is planned for realization:

-         within the framework of the "Health" national project - establishment of a space data-based social-hygienic monitoring and nationwide telemedical service systems;

-         within the framework of the "Education" national project - establishment of space capabilities-based regional, interregional and thematic networks and systems of space remote education and interactive training, monitoring systems for assuring safety of school transport vehicles, buildings and constructions of educational institutions;

-         when implementing the objectives of the "Accessible and Comfort Habitation for the Russian Citizens" - use of space monitoring systems for evaluating the state of buildings and constructions, resource saving systems, land management systems, urban planning systems, estate property registration systems, all of which operating on space information;

-         when implementing the objectives of the "Agribusiness Development" project - establishment of an ERS and space navigation system, data-based agriculture monitoring and management system;

-         for enhancing the payoff of all national projects - introduction of present day GIS, monitoring and management systems which use the space assets capabilities.

In Kaluga in March 2007 the plenary meeting of the State Council Presidium of the Russian Federation analyzed the space capabilities application expansion in the interests of social and economical development of the country's regions.

It was noted that the main relevant efforts should be directed at:

-         forming a full-fledged space products and services market, first of all ERS and navigation services market;

-         inventory checking of available products and resources;

-         establishing and deploying a basic infrastructure for space activity products utilization including a space services operator institute and regional space information distribution and interpretation centers;

-         creating new normative-legal tools for establishing and developing the given national space activity sphere;

-         preparing and implementing regional targeted programs for space activity products utilization;

-         implementing pilot projects for system utilization of space capabilities and information by transport industry, in managerial sphere, construction, agriculture, forestry, water industry, geodesy, mapping, land management, ecology, emergency management, law and order sphere, mineral exploration, education, and many others;

-         creating integrated regional information systems, GIS, other SW/HW packages;

-         operatively presenting space information, information on goods, services and advanced experience in the given field through a shared information system.

The regional government has established an information and analytical center receiving and processing ERS satellite data, as well as using the global navigation field capabilities. The city traffic cars are equipped with satellite navigation receivers enabling the traffic controllers to more effectively check the traffic timetable observance. The Kaluga administration established a space information-based emergency situation monitoring system; they plan to use space facilities for monitoring experimental farm fields.

At present Tatarstan began actively cooperating with the Roskosmos enterprises; many pilot projects are under implementation in the Moscow region. Roskosmos together with the Yaroslavl administration establishes a regional telematics and navigation system which will use the GLONASS services. In mid-summer 2008 Samara opened an ERS data acquisition and processing center enabling to operatively fulfill a wide range of tasks for the benefit of the Povolzhie (land along the Volga river) and Ural regions progress.

Establishment of the Federal Space Agency Interdepartmental Council for space activity products use in the interests of the social and economical progress of the RF subjects under the order signed in October this year is intended for enhancing payoff of the space activity products use at the regional level.

In conclusion I would like to specially emphasize that managers of the Roskosmos enterprises consider the fruitful and creative work on forming and developing the space activity products "consumption" to be one of their primary tasks. We are confident that already in the near-term future a fresh impetus will be given to full-scale space activity integration in the country's social and economic life.