Problems with the supply of components due to sanctions and the closure of industrial enterprises in Ukraine may become a threat to the Russian segment (RS) of the International Space Station (ISS), experts of the rocket and space corporation Energia believe. They presented their arguments in an article published in the scientific journal "Space Engineering and Technology".
Employees of the corporation note that it is usually necessary to replace components on time, without bringing them to failure. But during the flight of the Russian segment of the ISS, many parts were discontinued for various reasons. The main one is the termination of the release of the element base that existed during the development of the first modules of the station segment.
"A number of devices and blocks were manufactured at enterprises that ceased to exist or fell under the jurisdiction of other states (Ukraine), or under sanctions that do not allow the use of the required components (element base) of imported production," quotes an excerpt from the RIA Novosti magazine.
Experts added that the above-mentioned reasons led to an increase in costs and duration of work on the manufacture of spare parts. However, the current state of the Russian segment assumes its operation until 2024 and beyond, although the abundance of component failures may make its flight impractical due to the difficulties of maintaining operability.
At the end of August, the general designer of the Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) ENERGIA, cosmonaut, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Solovyov said that the construction of a new Russian space station could begin in 2027.
In September, the Security Commission of the countries participating in the International Space Station (ISS) project recommended that the governments of the countries extend the operation of the station beyond 2024 with constant proper maintenance.
