Valeriy A.Menshikov

Research Institute of Space Systems

State Space Research-Production Center of M.V. Khrunichev’s name

21-st Centuries will be as century of Space Technologies. Besides, two important leads for perspective development of space vehicles will be highlighted: fundamental researches of cosmological natural and chemical processes in celestial bodies and in the Universe as a whole, including their formation and evolution; and also solving applied problems of maintenance of human habitability.

The realization of these trends determines the tendency in development and application of space-rocket engineering considered in the paper.

The analysis of space technologies development is showing, that one from the most perspective ways of their improvement is the application of small space vehicles and systems on their basis.

Concept “the small space vehicle” reflects a qualitative outcome of transition of scientific-technical progress on a higher stage of development with the organization on a new technological level of processes of designing, manufacturing, tests, start-up and maintenance of operation.

Many countries are interested in the creation and use of small space vehicles. In Russia Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center has the greatest scientific-technical and economic potential for development, creation and operation of small space vehicles of various purpose.

Now, on evaluations of the Center experts, the most perspective area of application of small space vehicles is the use for creation of a high-speed orbital transportation system constructed on the basis of ATM technology (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and intersatellite laser communication, for a formation of multifunctional space telecommunication system of Russia.

The use small space vehicles for creation of information-communication complexes of the checking state and of the movement control of the land- , air- , marine transportation means is very perspective.

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center has obvious advantage in the deployment of considered space systems, because this Center can use the means orbital injection: the launcher of “Proton” and accelerating unit of “Breeze-M” for a group injection of small space vehicles; the launcher of “Rockot” – for orbital grouping.

In the long term perspective “Angara” rockets may be used for the orbital injection of small space vehicles.

These means of the ascent give the possibility to ensure the deployment of systems of observation, navigation, communication and other particular purpose on base of small space vehicles.

So, the use of small space vehicles and space systems on their basis is very perspective for the solving a broad circle of economic and defensive problems in 21-st Century. Khrunicyev State Research and Production Space Center may be leading in manufacturing and operation of these means, both in Russia and in the framework of International Cooperation.