Scientific Conference

Actual problems of Russian Astronautics

XXXIV Academic Conference on Astronautics

(Russia, Moscow, January 26 - 29, 2010)

A.K.Medvedeva

Institution of the Russian Academy of Sciences

S.A.Vavilov Institute for History of Natural Sciences and Engineering of RAS

Russia

The 34^th Academic Readings on cosmonautics took place on 26-29 January 2010 in Moscow. They were organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Space Agency and RAS Committee for development of scientific heritage of the pioneers of space exploration. The Readings were held in commemoration of Academician S.P.Korolyov and other outstanding Russian scientists, the pioneers of space exploration. Russian space community was represented by numerous - more than 1650 - participants from 165 departments of rocket-and-space branch. 1085 scientists and specialists submitted their papers, and 492 of them delivered their reports publicly at the plenary meeting and sessions. The Readings included: plenary session, two round tables, and twenty sessions. 47 workshops were held.

The Readings started with the speech of Academician of RAS B.E.Chertok - Chairman of the Organizing Committee and one of Korolyov's closest companions. He outlined the Soviet achievements in space engineering and noted that despite all the problems Russian cosmonautics has been a leading force of modern Russian economy. The participants were greeted by the first Vice-Chancellor (Vice Chancellor for science at N.E.Bauman MSTU) K.Ye.Demikhov, representatives of Federal Space Agency and European Space Agency. They wished the participants successful Readings and new creative achievements.

In the framework of plenary session the President of Space Corporation "Energiya", Chief Designer V.A.Lopota made a report "Mission for the 21^st Century Generation - Solar System Exploration", which attracted much attention. Having described the missions and achievements of the Corporation in the field of space engineering and cosmonautics in the past (including manned flights), the author submitted some suggestions of the Corporation concerning possible strategy for Solar system exploration and exploitation of acquired knowledge and technology for the benefit of humanity. The report substantiated the necessity of development of space systems and means on the basis of nuclear power engineering. Their underlying elements, i.e. a high-power space nuclear power plant (SNPP) and a multipurpose space platform with SNPP, are to be designed in the nearest 10-15 years. Possible applications of SNPP can include the concept of large-scale specialized space vehicles for global space telecommunication and communication, for all-weather Earth monitoring (including the one on the basis of radio location and means of optical observations), for information support in the regions of natural disasters and local violence, and for an integrated ground system for asteroid and comet threat repulsion. Besides, the paper stated some proposals on evolutionary development of space program of manned flights in Russia, module-type construction of space means for implementation of the latter, expansion of the human activity in the near-Earth space, and space means for Martian and Lunar programs.

Director General of SSE RSC "TsSKB-Progress" presented his paper "SSE RSC "TsSKB-Progress": Historical Evolution and New Developments", which was delivered by his Deputy for Science S.I.Tkachenko. FSUE "SSPRSC "TsSKB-Progress" is one of the world leaders and a key Russian enterprise in development, production and operation of space engineering means. In 2009 the company celebrated its 50^th anniversary and the 90^th anniversary of its manager - Chief Designer D.I.Kozlov.

Development of launchers that put into orbit the payloads of different purposes for both domestic and foreign clients belongs to the priority directions of the company activities. In 2005 in the framework of large-scale international cooperation a contract was signed between Federal Space Agency and French enterprise Arianespace concerning "Soyuz" project at Guiana Space Center. This is the most large-scale Russian project being implemented abroad. The key role of this Project belongs to SSPRSC "TsSKB-Progress", which is responsible for the launcher, the launching site and overall engineering management of Russian industrial companies participating in the launching mission. Special version of a new launcher "Soyuz-2" (Soyuz-ST) - has been developed for operation at Guiana Space Center. According to the author, the assembly and autonomous testing of the launching site are under way now. Another direction of "TsSKB-Progress" developments is design of complexes for Earth remote sensing. "TsSKB-Progress" in cooperation with numerous companies within the framework of Russian Federal Space Program developed a space complex "Resurs-DK1". "Resurs-DK1" is nowadays the only optoelectronic space vehicle (SV) introduced into the Russian orbit constellation. It provides Earth remote sensing of high resolution.

Finally, at the plenary session the 2^nd and 3^rd volumes of the book by Boris Chertok "Rockets and people" published in the USA were presented by NASA representative J. von Puttkamer.

Two round tables were held at the Readings: "Mass Media about Cosmonautics: Success and Mistakes" and "Youth Scientific Projects". They turned to be quite popular among the audience. The first round table was moderated and directed by: A.A.Vorobyev, spokesman of Roscosmos; Yu.M.Baturin, Russian pilot-cosmonaut, Secretary of Russian journalists' guild; A.M.Perslyak, journalist and historian; S.A.Zhukov, cosmonaut-researcher, President of Moscow Space Club.

The following topics were submitted and discussed:

-         quality of presentation of the news and problems of cosmonautics in Russian mass media;

-         comparative analysis of native and foreign practice;

-         space specialization in journalism vs. universalism;

-         the role of mass media in cosmonautics promotion;

-         positive examples of Russian press activities;

-         incompetence and mistakes reporting the space activities;

-         yellow press about cosmonautics;

-         the role of state in cosmonautics promotion;

-         reasons for reduced public interest towards cosmonautics;

-         sharp decrease of interest showed by space engineering companies towards the successes and problems, perspectives and innovations.

Representatives from the following organizations took part in discussion: Russian Academy of Sciences, K.E.Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, M.V.Keldysh Research Center, S.P.Korolyov RSC "Energiya", S.A.Lavochkin SPA, TsNIIMash, representatives of aerospace industry, N.E.Bauman MSTU and other technical universities, Moscow Space Club, and veterans of space and rocket branch.

Academician B.Chertok, who attended the session, noted that any sensible criticism having appeared in mass media immediately "sinked" in a swamp of "yellow" stories or idle talk, and there was no feedback with mass media managers. He also reproached young Russian journalists for incompetence as opposed to their foreign colleagues. His speech was amplified and supported by a great many participants who exemplified it with a number of cases testifying to lack of professionalism of young journalists and to mass media being not ready for feedback, especially in case of mistakes or distortions. Frequent replacement of "special" reporters in mass media leads to smattering and indiscriminative stories and search only for sensations. Scientific and patriotic education and the work with young generation were considered by many participants. Values and ideas that mass media should rely on were mentioned by many speakers who are deeply concerned with the vacuum of goals and beliefs inherent in modern youth.

The round table appeared to be interesting and initiated the discussion of a delicate problem in the framework of which the blame can easily be shifted onto the mass media. Moreover, the submitted topic not only seemed to be urgent but it was also strained by fundamentally different standards of generations in Russia. The audience took up the initiative and could carry on talking "through the night".

Round table "Youth Scientific Projects" was directed by: Deputy Head of Roscosmos V.P.Remishevsky; Head of TsNIIMash Department K.S.Yelkin; President of ISC "Vympel" Public Corporation, Dr. Tech. Sci., Professor V.F.Fateev; Head of Youth Space Center, Dr. Tech. Sci., Professor of N.E.Bauman MSTU V.I.Mayorova; Dr. Tech. Sci., Professor of MAI G.V.Malyshev.

Representatives from the following organizations took part in discussion: Roscosmos, TsNIIMash, M.V.Keldysh Research Center, IAM RAS, RSC "Energiya", enterprises of aerospace branch (RSRIEM, DB Polyot, ROSTO, RSRISIM, S.A.Lavochkin SPA, etc.), TRAC, and several technical universities from Russia.

The discussed topics:

-         educational problems of cosmonautics: Russian national educational program "SOVIK", nonprofit partnership "Transparent World", Russian university program).

-         Russian post-crisis innovation cosmonautics: "Space Bridge", "Structure of High-Energy Bases in the System of "Earth - Geostationary Orbit - Moon", "Long-Lived Low-Orbit EAS ERS", "Space Nanoelevator", "Aerospace Extreme Sport "Space Rally", etc.

-         Projects of scientific and educational satellites (demonstration of engineering solutions generated at RSRIEM, DB Polyot, RSC "Energiya", ROSTO, RSRISIM, S.A.Lavochkin SPA, N.E.Bauman MSTU, M.V.Lomonosov MSU, MAI, USATU, SibSAU, etc.).

More than 120 participants discussed the most pressing issues in development of innovation space technologies depending on staff potential of the space branch. Educational problems of cosmonautics and educational technologies were covered in presentations by Dr. Tech. Sci., Professor of IAM RAS M.Yu.Ovchinnikov, Deputy Director of SRINP of Lomonosov MSU Radchenko Vladimir Vyacheslavovich, Head of Youth Space Center, Dr. Tech. Sci., Professor of Bauman MSTU V.I.Mayorova, Dr. Tech. Sci., Professor of Samara State Aerospace University (SSAU) I.V.Belokonov, Head of SibSAU scientific administration K.G.Okhotkin, and other speakers.

One of newly emerged trends in cosmonautics concerns tryout of new technologies and experiments conducted at special technological satellites. However, experiments conducted at large-scale satellites are quite expensive, so the trend can be especially valuable if applied to technological micro- and nanosatellites whose construction is simplified due to the specific tasks, and therefore it can be successfully used for student projects.

Just those very projects were submitted at the session of round table by young space researchers - students and postgraduates of technical universities. Among the most appreciated projects there were the ones by Bauman MSTU students ("Student microsatellite BAUMANETS", "Microsattelite TROS-MGTU", "Nanosatellite PARUS-MGTU"), Lomonosov MSU students ("Microsattelite TATYANA"), SibSAU ("Microsattelite YUBILEINY"), and SSAU ("Microsattelite AIST").

The Round table participants were unanimous that efficient development of modern rocket-and-space industry and establishment of conditions for implementation of promising space activities demand a new system for staff reserve formation which would attract talented, creative and well-trained young specialists to cosmonautics. These personnel would enable reaching long-range goals of cosmonautics: support of national safety, development of social and economic spheres and science, strengthening of international cooperation.

The 34^th Academic Readings consisted of two dozens of sessions. Therefore it is reasonable to classify the latter into corresponding subject groups to carry out the analysis. There are five subject modules:

1.        Space, rockets and ground facilities module comprised three sessions: "Aircrafts. Design and construction", "Automatic space vehicles for planetary and astrophysics research. Design, construction, testing and calculation", "Objects of ground facilities for space systems".

2.        Rocket engines module comprised four sessions: "Development of cosmonautics and basic problems of gas dynamics, combustion and heat transfer", "Founders of aerospace propulsion engineering; theory and construction of aircraft engines", "Space power engineering and space electric propulsion systems - current problems of design and quality assurance, high technology", "Combined power plants for hypersonic and aerospace vehicles".

3.        Navigation module consisted of three sessions: "Applied celestial mechanics and motion control", "Space navigation and robotics", "Control systems for space vehicles and complexes".

4.        Production module included two sessions: "High technology in space engineering" and "Production of space engineering constructions".

5.        Humanitarian problems of cosmonautics comprised five sessions: "Economics of space activities", "Cosmonautics and sustainable social development", "Aerospace education and youth problems", "Space biology and medicine", and "Cosmonautics and culture".

Sessions "Research of scientific activity of pioneers in space exploration" and "Space engineering history" deal with specific subjects and can not be classified into any of the stated modules.

Sessions of the first module "Aircrafts. Design and construction" traditionally contained the papers delivered by representatives from the main space engineering companies of 12 major scientific and industrial centers of the Russian Federation and its leading universities:

-         Institute of Astronomy, RAS (Moscow);

-         GNII VнF нп of the Russian Federation (Moscow);

-         RSC "Energiya" (Korolyov city, Moscow region);

-         P.I.Baranov CIAM (Moscow);

-         M.V.Khrunichev SSSPC (Moscow);

-         M.M.Gromov PRI (Zhukovsky city, Moscow region);

-         CSES "Dinamika" (Zhukovsky city, Moscow region);

-         SRI of Parachute Construction (Moscow);

-         SRI of Applied Mechanics and Electrodynamics (Moscow);

-         FSUE "DB Arsenal" (St. Petersburg);

-         N.E.Bauman MSTU (Moscow);

-         MAI (Moscow).

A number of papers were prepared in cooperation with university and industrial science.

All the submitted papers dealt with practically important and significant problems associated with design and construction of aircrafts and existing related engineering and technological problems with application of modern methods of mathematical modeling and analysis.

The problems of design and construction of aircrafts were mainly connected with:

-         development of target space systems;

-         atmospheric and exoatmospheric vehicles;

-         ways and features of implementation of Lunar and Martian manned flights;

-         establishment of transport systems;

-         features of oxyhydrogen propulsion systems application including in particular the case of the promising ANGARA-type launchers.

Authors also analyzed the issues of launching transport systems "Earth - low orbit AES", multisatellite orbit constellations, possible application of new composite materials for flying vehicles, hypersonic streamlining of vehicles during their motion in the atmosphere.

Assurance of safe (precise and soft) landing of reentry space vehicles was considered together with the issues of utilization of soft-shell engineering constructions, features of mathematical modeling of reentry landing module behavior dynamics and practical issues of vehicle landing onto the Earth surface. The following issues were also considered: establishment of space transport systems and their orbital arrangement, pattern of transport operations, possibility for application of electro-magneto-dynamic cable system during the near-Earth maneuvering. The speakers discussed the program problems of consecutive missions for attended orbit multisatellite systems that promote the space satellite communication for the typical orbit constellations (geostationary, high elliptical, semidiurnal, and diurnal) and are connected with transfer orbit to Lagrange point L₁ of gravitation system "Earth-Moon". It was suggested that transport support should be provided using the patterns like multipurpose "space bridge" formed on the basis of two-stage space tow "liquid-propellant engine/electric propulsion" with possible application of the latter as partially reusable transport means or as a power-and-information center for the target orbit bases.

Among the considered general problems one should note the development of the concept of high-energy orbit bases located, among other, at Lagrange points of gravitation systems and designed for dealing with heavy power-and-information flows. Simultaneous allocation and isolation of functions of test service vehicles (in the structure of target missions) which coordinate and form the program of space bases lead to qualitative renewal of multilevel space complexes and cooperation of information systems "Earth-Space" and "Space-Space". Such approach promotes further specialization of space vehicles, ensures the required level of duplication and backup and promotes reliability and functional efficiency of large space complexes.

Another group of problems discussed within the module is "Automatic space vehicles for planetary and astrophysics research. Design, construction, testing and calculation".

The session included papers on basic and applied space research, development and operation of automatic space vehicles. New promising projects were submitted, and much attention was given to specific proposals concerning improvement of vehicles currently being under development, design features of space vehicles, problems of ballistic support, implementation of interplanetary missions. The discussed reports contained results of grand fundamental research aimed at space exploration at the present stage.

Specialists from the following organizations took part in the session: S.A.Lavochkin SPA, P.N.Lebedev Institute of Physics, Astro Space Center, N.E.Bauman MSTU, "VNII Transmash" Public Corporation, M.V.Keldysh IAM RAS, MIA, etc. 18 reports were submitted by the young scientists and postgraduates. The session was attended by students of universities and an aerospace school and concluded with the visit to Lavochkin SPA museum.

The third session of the module covered the topic of "Objects of ground facilities for space systems". Conventional scientific directions in the field of ground complexes and launch facilities in space engineering covered in submitted papers were as follows:

-         development and operation of automated resource-saving and information technologies in construction of launch facilities;

-         research of characteristics of gas dynamic, acoustic, dynamic and thermal processes in launch facilities during the period of preparation and launch of space systems;

-         development of evaluation methods for technical conditions of construction of launch and service technological equipment, approaches to simulation and optimal control of launch facilities operation.

According to analysis of the subjects of submitted papers, all the reports satisfy the scientific directions of development of ground complexes and launch facilities for space engineering at the present stage. This confirms their topicality, scientific and practical value. The most useful reports from scientific and practical point of view fall within the subject: "Development of diagnostic technique for technical conditions of construction of launch and service technological equipment, approaches to simulation and optimal control of launch facilities operation".

The second subject module reflects a typical trend of joining of efforts and results of basic and applied research dealing with operation and improvement of existing space vehicles (SV) and development of new ones. Presentation subjects of the session "Founders of aerospace propulsion engineering; theory and construction of aircraft engines" can be classified into several categories:

-         problems of liquid-propellant engine development;

-         design and tryout of solid-propellant engines;

-         conversion application of low-thrust liquid-propellant engines (LTLPE) in processing plants for protective coating deposition;

-         design of combined rocket engines: hypersonic ramjet engines and hydrojet engines.

Participants of the second module sessions on basic problems of gas dynamics, combustion and heat transfer reported the results of physical and computation experiments which form scientific basis for solution of engineering problems associated with space flights. These are: radiation gas dynamics of a given space vehicle and kinetics of ionization processes in flight experiments; condition of SV's own external atmosphere and its surface in case when partially combusted fuel is ejected from LTLPE nozzles; advanced constructions of impulse detonating burners and engines; numerical research of an operation cycle of an impulse detonating ramjet engine and propagation of combustion along the channel with a supersonic viscous gas flow; experimental and analytical solution of supersonic combustion progress behind the shock waves; features of supersonic flow around a flying vehicle with a conic stabilizer; analysis of dispersion at propagation of nonlinear and shock waves in a gas with removal of heat from external sources; other papers concerning gas dynamics, combustion, gas kinetics and heat transfer. The stated subjects depict the general approach towards the information discussed at the session: development of basic research, that is acquisition of new knowledge on gas dynamics of reacting systems, chemical kinetics, combustion and heat transfer, and possible application of the knowledge for solution of specific problems related to cosmonautics.

The audience was particularly interested in a problem presented in the papers of the session "Combined power plants for hypersonic and aerospace vehicles" of the considered module. The problem concerns development of essentially new engines for aviation and aerospace systems - high-frequency valveless impulse detonating engines. Such unique layout of engines patented by R.M.Pushkin and A.I.Tarasov in 1991 has been extensively researched both experimentally and theoretically. Experiments were carried out at the testbeds of Troitsk Institute of Thermonuclear Research, Institute of Mechanics of MSU, Lykov Minsk Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer, N.E.Zhukovsky Engineering Air Academy, A.Lyulka SEC. The research resulted in development of a special demonstrator, which was tested publicly in 2004 at a specially designed testbed at A.Lyulka SEC in front of representatives from a number of departments. The claimed features were completely confirmed by the tests. But lack of financial support prevented further work on the project (it was planned to build a production piece).

Theoretical developments reported at the previous Readings substantiated the application domain and advantages of such engines. It was shown that they are simpler in construction, cheaper in production and operation, lighter and less resource-consuming than the engines used in modern aviation and aerospace engineering.

According to the participants' opinion, development of impulse detonating engines of original Russian layout is an urgent and practically significant foreground task of national importance. But due to the present conditions of chaos in production management and lack of supervision in expenditures of tangible assets the problem can not be solved in the foreseeable future just by separate efforts of individual organizations. Intellectual, productive and financial resources should unite under the joint control performed by an authoritative, competent and government-controlled aircraft company. Our experts believe that the mission can be entrusted to A.Lyulka SEC (with proper funding). The existing situation when the problem is solved by a number of organizations performing separate research works will not promote but slow down the development of a periodic combustion engine of a new type. Besides, one should take into account sudden rise of interest towards the development of detonating engines from the foreign companies. Any delay is dangerous as Russia can lose its priority in solution of this strategically important problem.

The session "Applied celestial mechanics and motion control" of the third module devoted its first meeting to the memory of outstanding scientist Dmitry Evgenyevich Okhotsimsky, who had been a permanent leader of the session since its establishment. He founded a scientific school of space flight dynamics, published the results of basic research in applied celestial mechanics, robotics, and mechatronics and directed his energies and care to development of the Soviet scientific school. The session was attended by professors and scientific associates from IAM, MSU and other scientific and educational organizations of Russia.

Then the papers on current problems of mathematics, mechanics and their application to space flight dynamics and motion control were reported and discussed. Among the speakers there were both respectable scientists well-known in scientific and engineering sphere and young specialists. Representatives from the following organizations made their reports: scientific departments of RAS (M.V.Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Astro Space Center of P.N.Lebedev Institute of Physics, A.A.Dorodnitsyn Computer Center), scientific and production associations (CSRI of Mechanical Engineering, S.A.Lavochkin SPA, S.P.Korolyov RSC "Energiya", Moscow Experimental and Design Bureau "Mars", Design Bureau "Yuzhnoe"), professors, postgraduates and students of the universities from different regions of Russia (Mechanical and mathematical department of Lomonosov MSU, St. Petersburg State University, Moscow Physical and Technical Institute (MPTI), N.E.Bauman MSTU, S.P.Korolyov Samara State Aerospace University, Moscow Aviation Institute, A.N.Tupolev Kazan KAI-KSTU, National Research Nuclear University "MIFI", Moscow Power Engineering Institute), from Georgia (A.Razmadze Tbilisi Mathematical Institute) and Portugal (University of Beira Interior).

The whole scope of session subjects were considered, i.e. flight dynamics of artificial space vehicles, their motion control, systems for satellite orientation and stabilization, etc. The majority of speakers considered specific practical problems which accompany implementation of modern technology. Among others, the problems of possible approach of asteroids to the Earth (famous Apophis in particular) and safety of near-Earth space were discussed. Optimal control of space vehicles for different purposes (generation and maintenance of required orbits allowing for special effects of evolution, maneuvering with the help of engines with constant limiting thrust, optimization of flights to the orbits of different classes - near-Earth and around liberation points L1 and L2) was also considered.

Many specialists year in year out participate in the Readings and present fresh solutions in corresponding research spheres. They demonstrate not only the improved qualities of scientific analysis but also increasing complexity of problems in development of space activities. Well-established group of speakers is yet replenished with young specialists from the universities (students and postgraduates) who are attracted to solve the newest problems.

The session "Design ballistics of satellite systems and space flight control" considered the whole range of relevant subjects; the following problems and practical issues were discussed:

-         development of satellite systems for continuous observation of geographical regions of the Earth surface;

-         establishment of control systems for the manned SVs, design of navigation and control complexes;

-         operation and flight control for the manned and unmanned SVs;

-         establishment of an International Rescue System for SV crews being in distress in space;

-         control of International Space Station motion;

-         safety of space flights endangered by clogging of near-Earth space;

-         automation of data preparation process and telemetry information processing in the process of space system control.

New solutions for existing problems were presented in the vast majority of submitted papers.

Development and implementation of intelligent technologies and corresponding tools for control of aerospace objects is an important trend in space engineering at the present stage.

"Control systems for space vehicles and complexes" session dealt with construction concepts, calculation and design methods for unmanned and automated control of different space engineering objects, and promising trends in development of intelligent control systems for such objects. Problems of information processing in control systems and improvement of their accuracy of operation, implementation of modern technology of calculation and design, simulation and ground tryout of these systems held a high position in discussion.

Well-known specialists in the field of development and operation of SV control systems were among the authors and participants of sessions. Representatives of Le Cui Dong Technical University (Vietnam) and South-West Institute of Technical Physics (PRC, Chandu) took part in the sessions. They reported some new and valuable scientific results.

Reports submitted for the session "Space navigation and robotics" covered current issues of development of navigation, orientation and stabilization. Development and research of new types of micromechanical gyroscopic sensors of absolute angular velocity and their implementation were discussed. These results are of great scientific and practical importance. Theoretical research of different types of micromechanical solid wave gyroscopes was considered by young scientists and postgraduates of MPEI (TU). These papers originated from theoretical research of accuracy of different types of wave gyroscopes conducted at MPEI (TU). Reports made by four postgraduates of Bauman MSTU attracted much interest. They considered some trends in applied research of inertial navigation systems and space orientation and stabilization systems whose sensors comprise micromechanical gyroscopes and accelerometers. Development and experimental research of accuracy of inertial navigation system sensors - gravimeters - are of great practical importance. These results were illustrated by the authors from Bauman MSTU.

Production issues in space engineering were considered at the fourth module sessions. "High technology in space engineering" session aimed at discussion of current issues of development and operation of space engineering objects:

-         reliability and environmental safety of space engineering objects used for research of near and far space for the benefit of national economy and development of the whole Earth civilization;

-         global informatization of aerospace companies, establishment of geographically distributed information-and-telecommunication systems for supervision over enterprises, implementation of interactive electronic engineering manuals and other CALS-technologies ensuring information support of space engineering products at all stages of their life cycle into routine activities, restructuring of business processes, establishment of computerized integrated industries for closer and more complete integration of Russian aerospace branch into the world economic community;

-         implementation of high resource-and-power-saving green technologies into manufacturing process in aerospace engineering, support of Russia entering the market of high technologies.

The submitted papers dealt with current problems of implementation and application of automated systems for manufacturing process support. The issues were exemplified with successful application of such systems at subdivisions of Khrunichev SSSPC: Voronezh Engineering Plant and Armatura DB (Kovrov city). Methods of data organization and structuring for large industrial companies were submitted. Real cases of high technology manufacturing with resource-and-power-saving technology meeting all current green requirements were considered.

The session "Production of space engineering constructions" conventionally dealt with manufacturing technologies and organization of space engineering items production.

The papers depicted achievements, features and problems of modern high technologies used in space engineering production. The whole range of high technologies in space engineering was covered: blank processes (MATU, MSTU, MAI), mechanical treatment (MSTU, OrelSTU), physical and chemical treatment (Khrunichev SSSPC, MSTU). Much attention was particularly given to precise manufacturing of structures using composite materials. Promising technological approaches were illustrated in papers which described hydroabrasive, ultrajet, magnetic-impulse treatment technologies and conventional methods of mechanical treatment. Several reports dealt with blank manufacturing, e.g. shaping of bottoms and complex surfaces, allowance for springing in the process of mechanical treatment. Technology for molding of granular polymer materials like "artificial stone" was described. Scientists from Samara proposed some new technologies which lay the groundwork for development of new promising space engineering pieces, e.g. components with a shape memory effect or high-speed solid bodies. Large number of reports considered new technologies for assembly and control of low-rigid constructions (particularly, electromagnetic protection of satellites during the assembly process), estimated contribution of technology into the errors in accelerating module constructions and structures with variable geometry. New approaches to design and application of testbeds in space engineering were discussed.

The session was for the first time attended by the scientists from Orlov State Technical University, who submitted their results on plastic deformation and simulation of destruction of space engineering components.

Much interest was aroused by results reported by the young specialists from Bauman MSTU, who developed and improved manufacturing processes of space engineering constructions. Participation of a scientist from Iran confirms the international status of the conference.

The series of historical reports proceeded with the paper by V.A.Moiseev (SPA Kompomash), who told the audience about Minister for General Engineering in USSR S.A.Afanasyev and his own experience after meeting this outstanding manager of Soviet space industry.

The fifth module sessions dealt with humanitarian issues. The papers and reports submitted to the session "Economics of space activities" covered the urgent economic problems of space activities: commercial operation of space engineering objects, space insurance, economic safety of space projects, commercial prospects of GLONASS projects, communication, ERS programs, etc.; marketing research of space market, applied and basic problems and tasks.

One should also note evolution (genesis) of specific results in the following fields:

-         restructuring of the branch and its certain enterprises and departments;

-         enhancement of space activity efficiency in conditions of space market development;

-         economic aspects of development and implementation of space projects of different purposes;

-         prospects of Russian market of space services and its separate components;

-         establishment of integrated systems for commercial space project implementation;

-         allowance for social factors in estimation of space program efficiency;

-         organization and economic problems of implementation of dual purpose projects.

Together with conventional topics that are essential in terms of economic and social aspects of space engineering, the session considered the lately emerged problems:

-         investments and legal issues of space activities;

-         economic evaluation of intangible assets and intellectual property;

-         prospects of aviation and space industrial parks;

-         improvement of system management in unstable conditions.

The session "Cosmonautics and sustainable social development (concepts, projects, solutions)" considered main problems of the subject:

-         cosmonautics and social development, safety control, space law and space policy;

-         promising space projects, forecast of engineering and technology development, problems of sustainable development;

-         space activity and environmental safety.

According to the analysis, these issues will improve and promote development of technology in the field, formation of space law, enhancement of international cooperation, and social and economic development of the country.

Today Russia and international community face a number of problems that influence the possibility of long lasting existence of civilizations, i.e. social and economic problems, environmental, ecological, demographic, personnel, power, safety, cultural and educational problems, etc. Space technologies can help in solution of quite a wide range of problems and should be used for this purpose.

The session had a main task to discuss and attract attention to the problems of mutually conditional development of cosmonautics and society, to research patterns of such development in the present and the past, and to reveal promising directions of such development of cosmonautics.

Authors who participated in the session "Aerospace education and youth problems" represented Russian technical universities and proposed their own approaches and forms for training of highly skilled specialists. Consider the following examples. M.F.Reshetnev Siberian State Aerospace University is implementing project-oriented training technology for "Information Satellite Systems" Public Corporation. Bauman MSTU, Lomonosov MSU, MAI and MPTI are developing satellite educational programs. A concept was submitted for establishment of departmental geographically distributed system for space activity staffing.

The first meeting was devoted to the problems of training and employment of scientific, engineering personnel and workers in the national aerospace complex. It was mentioned that nowadays the latter lacks the staff. There are the following problems. First, there is a deficit of specialists in defense-industrial sector and absence of young staff. Various ways out of this situation were proposed down to resumption of compulsory placement of graduates. However, there has been no effective ways to attract young specialists to the industry so far. The following way has recently outlined: joint work of large integrated industrial corporations and higher schools, establishment of corporate universities in the system that are intended for personnel training. Such cooperation gives a unique opportunity to combine education on the basis of fundamental knowledge that is taught at the universities with production experience. The cooperation can be exemplified with collaboration of Bauman MSTU and a number of large defense companies: "Almaz-Antei", S.P.Korolyov RSS "Energiya", SPA "Mashinostroenie". A company pays a certain university for the state demand for personnel and research work and so supports scientific work at the university.

Currently the practice of target intake by the companies' request has become quite popular according to the Government Decree No.854 of 30 December 2006. A company selects the applicants for a specialty, signs the contracts and the applicants enter the university according to some special competition. These candidates also sign a contract with the university. The model has been functioning since 2008, but demographic decline prevented from taking the whole planned number of target candidates.

The second problem concerns levels of graduates training. Engineering universities have been graduating specialists (engineers), masters and bachelors for nearly 15 years. And following the industrial needs, engineers are a predominating trend. In 2003 Russia signed a Bologna declaration and immediately afterwards the hot debates have begun concerning elimination of an engineer level and leaving only the bachelor-master levels.

A list of training courses has been elaborated for bachelor-master levels and a list of "monocourses" is being formed, i.e. the courses without "bachelor-master" fragmentation (4+2 years).

The list could include enlarged specialties in "Engineering and Technology" which comprise high-technology and defense fields of training of engineers, developers of new engineering pieces and technologies that require combination of basic training with engineering and practical courses.

Such combination has always been a distinguishing feature of Russian engineering education. It enabled establishment of powerful engineering schools in the universities that are well-known and recognized all over the world. Engineering schools of the leading Russian universities yield to no other engineering school in the world. A lot of our developments in the fields of space, aviation, space engineering, power and mechanical engineering, and armaments are made at the highest level.

The current reform of higher education, like any other reform, should not reduce the quality of engineering education but protect its traditions and develop its advantages, i.e. fundamental nature and high level of engineer training.

The current reform should undoubtedly meet the stated conditions in transition to two-level educational system. Russian leading technical universities are ready to satisfy almost any demand of employers and graduate engineers, bachelors and masters.

Finally, the third problem is in the fact that the intake plan numbers just a half of real need in engineering and scientific personnel.

Provision of defense and space engineering complex with staff is a strategic task which is directly associated with Russian national security and, allowing for the high level of corresponding engineering pieces, with innovation future of the country. The problem should be solved in essence, without doubtful programs that appear to be bureaucratic disguise for inertness. Educational reform still raises many questions both from employers and higher school specialists.

Session "Space biology and medicine" considered mainly medical and biological support of human existence in closed hermetic space both during the space flight and modeling ground experiments (Mars-500 Program). The papers dealing with manned space flights examined prevention of zero-gravity negative impact on human health in application to physical conditions and improvement of professional activity of cosmonauts. Special attention was given to ensuring sanitary-microbiological human environment in conditions of space flight. New promising approaches to control of microbiological situation onboard the space station were described in the submitted papers together with research results of International Space Station safety in terms of tryout of means and methods for leak detection, particularly resulting from hermetic enclosure microdestruction, and information on concepts of prolonged protection of structural materials of space vehicles from microbiological contamination.

Results represented in the papers are of primary importance for manned flights projects. They have been gained from high-level scientific research and possess clear practical orientation.

The reports devoted to the first experimental results of "Mars-500" Program gave much attention to the tryout of life-support systems for future interplanetary missions, including greenhouse devices, their operation conditions in an inhabited hermetic object, testing of methodical approaches for evaluation of psychological influence of growing plants on crew members in conditions of long residence in a hermetic object, research of an "operator-greenhouse-plant" system depending on personal features of researchers. The submitted results constitute the basis for preparation of such research during a 520-day experimental program "Mars-500".

Much attention was given to biological research conducted onboard of space station and on the ground that dealt with impact of various factors of space flights on biological objects of vegetable or animal nature. The obtained results promote our understanding of which factor of space flight is the most essential and affecting the biological objects. The research is important not only from scientific but also from practical point of view. It lays the foundation for promotion of biological technology into the life support systems of future interplanetary missions.

Session "Cosmonautics and culture" attracted attention of scientific and cultural community. The session considered the issues of correlation and mutual influence of cosmonautics and culture in different spheres. Its activity aroused much interest among the scientists and specialists from different spheres of science, culture and engineering. This year the session was devoted to the memory of Pavel Romanovich Popovich. The reports and announcements were delivered by the cosmonauts, representatives of space engineering, his colleagues, foreign guests, state and public figures, representatives of science, sports and culture, historians, his friends and family.

One of the Readings' fields represented at the corresponding session was directed towards research of scientific work of pioneers of space exploration.

This is an analytical review of reported papers:

-         the paper devoted to A.G.Kostikov's work was reported by one of the session's moderators Yu.V.Biryukov. Kostikov's works on development of space engineering pieces and new armaments - Guards Mortar Regiments ("Katyusha"). Yu.V.Biryukov constantly represents his papers and takes an active part in study of documents connected with the work of space exploration pioneers;

-         two papers delivered by the representatives of DB "Yuzhnoe" were devoted to the work of Ukrainian specialists in space engineering. V.S.Budnik's creative work was discussed in papers by F.P.Sanin and T.A.Zhuravel;

-         the most interesting report was made by Deputy Director General of DB "Yuzhnoe" A.V.Novikov, who told the audience about scientific work of N.F.Gerasyuta;

-         the report devoted to the 90^th anniversary of G.F.Katkov was made by the Head of Department of machines and apparatuses of SPA Electromash N.N.Mrochkovsky;

-         the paper devoted to L.V.Leskov's work was delivered by his daughter N.L.Leskova, who told about the scientist's philosophic work;

-         V.E.Bugrov based his report on documentary evidences and concluded that the next main objective of S.P.Korolyov's work after the first manned space mission was a mission to Mars. So, the popular opinion that there was a lunar race between Korolyov and von Braun is wrong. Some other documentary evidence was also presented that specify some details of the history of national cosmonautics.

Historical aspects of space engineering are quite important for modern cosmonautics as they represent an impartial source for analysis of past events and achievements of cosmonautics to be used for its future development. In addition to papers that constitute the basis for the session "History of Space Engineering", the similar reports were made almost at every session.

The aforementioned session worked on 28 January 2010. The participants commemorated the session co-chairman Yakov Yakovlevich Sirobaba, who died after the last Readings.

In his paper "Pioneer of the Space Era" the session co-chairman I.Ye.Vlasov adduced some unknown facts from Ya.Ya.Sirobaba's biography. The audience learned new facts about his childhood, youth, deserts and achievements. His name was put down into the book "Best Russian People". Ya.Ya.Sirobaba participated in the Great Patriotic War; he was a senior scientific associate of G.S.Titov Chief Test Center, a colonel, Doctor of technical sciences, Professor, honorary Academician of K.E.Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, Laureate of USSR National Prize. He served in the armed forces since 1941 to 1975. He was awarded with the second class Order of Patriotic War, Red Star Order, third class Order for "Services for the Native Land in the USSR Armed Forces", Honor Badge, and many medals.

Ya.Ya.Sirobaba passed away in May 2010. He died sitting at his worktable. His colleague I.Ye.Vlasov met him not long before his death and they discussed further plans and work on the monograph "History of Command Test Complex". Unfortunately, Ya.Ya.Sirobaba hadn't managed to finish the work but his associates carry on writing the book.

Then the session worked in compliance to its program and all the subjects were discussed in due course.