Replies to post #4345 on Nothing But Politics

[Amaunet]

Russia, China to develop space-based n-reactors

The following two texts are reposts.

Control of space will give a country uniquely instantaneous reach, capable of 'worldwide military operations.' -Am

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/03211803.htm


Moscow, July 21. (PTI): Russia and China are to jointly develop nuclear power plants for use in spacecraft, a senior official of Russia's Atomic Energy Ministry said today.

The Sino-Russian sub-committee on nuclear cooperation meeting here on Wednesday is likely to discuss cooperation in developing technologies for the use of nuclear energy in space, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Ministry, Nikolai Shingaryov, was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass.

The session of Sino-Russian sub-committee on nuclear cooperation would be co-chaired by Russian Atomic Energy Minister, Alexander Rumyantsev, and Chairman of the Chinese Committee on Defence Sciences, Technology and Industry, Zhan Yunchuan, who arrived for the talks today.

The two nations are also expected to discuss cooperation in building floating nuclear power plants. Russia has already developed the project of such reactors for power and heating supplies for coastal towns in the country's remote north.


Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu

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New missile-space corporation to appear in Russia

Is this "Information Satellite Systems" or "Upgrading and Development of the Defence-Industrial Complex (2002-2006)"?


14:46 2003-07-31


Preliminary work has been completed to create in Russia a State Missile-Space Corporation (GRKK) named after academician Mikhail Reshetnev.

This information was provided on Thursday by the press service of the research-production association of applied mechanics (NPO PM) also named after academician Mikhail Reshetnev. The association is located in the town of Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory.

The new integrated structure which is called "Information Satellite Systems" will be created on the basis of the NPO PM. Its project was approved by a special commission headed by minister of industry, science and technologies Ilya Klebanov who is supervising the implementation of the federal targeted programme "Upgrading and Development of the Defence-Industrial Complex (2002-2006)." Six well-known Russian enterprises, who have been NPO PM's partners for many years, expressed their desire to become members of a new corporation, where about 11,000 people will work.

All enterprises that have become members of the new structure are expected to be privatized in 2004.





http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/07/31/48982.html

[Amaunet]

Almost forgot, Russian Manned Mission to Mars


If they pull this off....wow! -Am

18:39 2003-12-22
Main requirements for candidates for Mars expedition

The highest professional level, resistance to stress and an inborn high radiation protection will be the main criteria to choose candidates for the Mars expedition, director of the Russian Medical and Biological Problems Institute academician Anatoly Grigoryev told RIA Novosti. He is one of the leaders of the project preparing the piloted expedition to the Mars.

"Alongside high requirements to professional skills, physical and psychological health, significant attention will be paid to choosing people with a maximum ability to adjust to extreme pressure and high resistance to stress," he pointed out.

Moreover, "it is very important to find candidates who have a higher immunity protection against ionizing radiation, as the crew will be under its influence during both the flight and the work on the Mars surface," the academician explained.

When speaking about the number of members of the Mars expedition, Grigoryev pointed out that "it seems expedient that the crew should comprise six men, three of whom will land on the surface of the Mars." The expedition is expected to comprise two pilots, a flight engineer, a doctor and two engineers.

"All crew members will have to undergo a cross-training so that they can substitute each other if necessary," the scientist added.

He believes that the independence of the expedition will increase tension on board the space craft and will significantly raise the responsibility level of each crew member.

"They will have to undertake most of the functions of ground services usual for near-earth orbital expeditions," Grigoryev explained.

When landing on the Mars and returning back to the Earth it is vital to rule out a possibility of infecting the two planets, he emphasized.

"Life on the Mars is unlikely, but possible in principle, it can be represented by organisms that live in extreme conditions on this planet, so it is necessary to take precautions not to infect the Mars with terrestrial microorganisms and vice versa," the academician believes.

At present the Institute is already choosing candidates for an experiment in the ground compression chamber. During a 500-day isolated "flight" several volunteers will feel the "pleasure" of the forthcoming expedition. The experiment will start already in the middle of 2005. The six-member crew has been almost chosen. Each of them will have to sign a contract that spells all possible risks. Any participant may leave "the board" at any moment of his own accord.

© RIAN

http://newsfromrussia.com/science/2003/12/22/51902.html

[Amaunet]

Okay, Project Prometheus could be why NASA is unable to ready the space shuttle and is letting Russia deliver all regular crews and cargo to the International Space Station next year. They are devoting a great deal of time to Prometheus.

As Project Prometheus is just now in the development stage, was NASA too busy with Prometheus to take the necessary precautions for the space shuttle Columbia, which broke up as it descended over central Texas killing seven astronauts?

That was not only a tragic but a sloppy episode denoting maybe distraction on NASA’s part.

-Am

Reference:
RUSSIA WILL DELIVER all regular crews and cargo to the International Space Station next year, filling in again for NASA, the head of the Russian space agency has announced.
National Business Review, New Zealand - Dec 20, 2003

[Amaunet]

Russia to continue developing strategic nuclear forces

I am not sure the new intercontinental seems the same as the planned Topol-M but the liquid-fuel is different?

#msg-1987113


www.chinaview.cn 2003-12-23 07:32:25


MOSCOW, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov declared Monday the ambition to develop the country's strategic nuclear forces, particularly some advanced strategic missile systems, the Interfax news agency reported.

"We will upgrade the Topol-M systems and the entire strategic nuclear component" to improve the quality and efficiency, the minister said at a meeting which President Vladimir Putin held with the participation of Cabinet members.

The minister reported to Putin that a regiment, armed with Topol-M strategic missile systems, was put on duty Sunday in Russia's southwest region of Saratov.

The system, with a payload of up to 1.2 tons, is "the most advanced strategic missile systems produced in Russia" and enables the "fully combat ready" regiment to "meet all the demands and criteria of the Defense Ministry," said Ivanov.

The minister plans to inform the president about specific areas for developing Russia's nuclear forces in early 2004.

Russia has started designing a new intercontinental ballistic missile with up to ten nuclear warheads, and will begin work next year on a new liquid-fuel missile, according to Interfax.

The new missile is designed to has a payload of up to four tons, which is three times the payload of the solid-fuel Topol-M missile, a source from the Russian Armed Forces General Staff said.

The new missile will be commissioned after 2009.

Putin said at a conference at the Defense Ministry in early October that Russia stored dozens of UR-100H UTTH missiles capable of carrying several hundred nuclear warheads and defeating sophisticated missile defense systems.

Although Russia and the United States promised to slash their deployed nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds by 2012 under the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT). The accord also allows the signatories to keep significant reserves of such missiles.

Russia has made "a number of breakthroughs" in developing new 21st century weapons and will do everything to maintain the momentum, Putin said. Enditem


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-12/23/content_1243626.htm