Russia has started deploying a satellite constellation under the Sphere program. The Skif-D spacecraft was launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome on September 22 to protect the orbital frequency resource of the Russian Federation. The satellite was created in JSC "Information Satellite Systems im. Academician M.F. Reshetnev" (part of Roscosmos). The systems and payload of the Skif-D spacecraft have already been tested. In an interview with TASS, the General director of JSC Information Satellite Systems named after him told about how the regular Skif devices will differ from the launched demonstrator, how many satellites will be included in the grouping, as well as about plans to increase the production of the number of devices per year.
academician M.F. Reshetnev" Evgeny Nesterov.
— Evgeny Alexandrovich, how long will the flight tests of the Skif-D satellite last?— Work is underway on the program of flight experimental testing of the Skif-D spacecraft.
To date, the systems and payload of the Skif-D spacecraft have already been tested, and work is underway to assess the performance of the main characteristics of the experimental space system. At the same time, measures are being taken to put into operation the orbital frequency resource of the Skif satellite communication system.
]After the completion of flight testing, experimental work will be carried out on the organization of communication channels, taking into account the influence of the Doppler effect and variable delay. In addition, during the active existence of the spacecraft, studies of the effect of radiation on the satellite in orbit of 8 thousand km will be conducted.
— When will the second Skif spacecraft be launched? How will the second device differ from the demonstrator?— It is planned to start deploying the standard Skif system in 2025 with the launch of the first two prototypes of the Skif spacecraft.
These will be satellites of a completely different class, which will provide broadband Internet access. The mass of regular Skif satellites will be more than 1 ton. In the future, the grouping will be built on the basis of spacecraft with active phased antenna arrays, which will significantly increase the throughput of the system.
— How many satellites will ISS Reshetnev create for the Sphere program? Will they consist entirely of domestic components?— As part of the Sphere program, ISS is developing five satellite communication groupings, namely: the Skif satellite communication system consisting of 12 spacecraft, Express, Express-RV, Yamal, and the Marathon-IoT multi-satellite data transmission system, the orbital grouping of which it will consist of 264 spacecraft.
At the moment, when implementing these projects, there is a systematic transition completely to the domestic element base.
— At what stage of manufacture is the demonstrator device of the Marathon-IoT grouping?— Now we have developed and are preparing to defend the draft design of the standard satellite system "Marathon".
In parallel, we are developing two Marathon-D demonstrator spacecraft, which are scheduled to be launched in 2023-2024.
— Are you planning any innovations in the work of the company as CEO? Which ones? What will ISS Reshetneva focus on?— Priority projects have been identified at the enterprise.
And now a lot of team work is being done on them. Operational meetings are held on a daily basis, and the execution of instructions is monitored. There is work online, 24 by 7.
— When will all Glonass-M satellites be decommissioned and the grouping will consist entirely of new Glonass series devices?— The Glonass-M spacecraft will be decommissioned as the Glonass-K series spacecraft launches after their flight tests.
Spacecraft launches will be carried out, among other things, according to operational necessity — after the failure of the Glonass-M spacecraft.
The replacement period of Glonass-M will depend on the duration of operation of the Glonass-M series spacecraft.
— When will the creation of the first Messenger satellite of the new generation begin? How long will it take to create the device and when will it be put into orbit?— Currently, the first stage of work on the creation of a new Messenger spacecraft has been completed.
According to the results of the examination, the Roscosmos State Corporation has adopted a draft design of a multifunctional personal satellite communication and data transmission system with the new Gonets spacecraft. Work on the stage of working design documentation will start next year and end at the end of 2025. During this time, ISS JSC needs to ensure the development of documentation and conduct of the first stage of ground—based experimental testing - laboratory development tests of key elements of the spacecraft, the ground-based communications complex.
In order to reduce the time required to create a multifunctional personal satellite communication and data transmission system, ISS JSC has launched work, approved a project team, a work schedule, and developed technological measures providing for the creation of the first Gonets spacecraft. The issues of additional financing in 2023-2025 are being worked out. This funding will ensure the launch of the first Messenger spacecraft on schedule.
— When will the production of the first high-orbit satellite "Glonass" begin? When will it be ready?— Currently, ISS JSC and the cooperation are developing materials for a preliminary design: the design appearance of a high-orbit space complex, including a spacecraft, is being determined.
Based on the results of the defense of the draft design, the possible date for the creation of a spacecraft of this type, as well as a high-orbit space complex, will be determined.
— Are new satellite platforms being developed?— The development of new satellite platforms and their components is ongoing.
First of all, this is due to new ambitious tasks that will need to be solved in the future.
This is due to the improvement of microelectronics and mechanical systems, fresh promising solutions in the field of materials science, the development of technical and technological capabilities of the enterprise, as well as the need on the part of customers and consumers for new quality and quantity of products, the expansion of the range of communication services, which leads to an increase in requirements for the technical characteristics of satellites.
The architecture of the construction of modern spacecraft should make it possible to create a large number of satellites in a short time and at a relatively low cost, including a space platform and a payload for various purposes.
— What kind of architecture can it be?— We have developed and are implementing two basic concepts for building basic space platforms, which in the near future will allow us to fully fulfill the above tasks.
As part of the research work of "Tiporyad", scalable unified space platforms (hereinafter referred to as MCPs) of small spacecraft are being created to ensure the creation of multi-satellite orbital groupings planned for use as part of the spacecraft of the "Sphere" subprogram.
At the moment, the first stage has been completed (the protection of the research work "Typorad-AP" has been carried out), where the justification of the choice of the optimal (best) layout of the options of the MCP, their components and main systems, aggregates, devices, electronic component base (electrical and radio components), components, construction materials, coatings, etc. has been carried out. fuel components, taking into account the reliability, capabilities of the experimental and production base, technical and economic indicators.
Within the framework of this work, the concept of modular construction of a space platform has been implemented. Each module individually represents a subsystem-platform, as well as a functionally and structurally separate node that has well-defined mechanical, electrical and thermal interfaces. At the first stage, each module of the platform undergoes a full cycle of ground testing (electrical, mechanical and thermal vacuum). As part of the in-line production of platforms, modules undergo the minimum required (random checks) volume of checks and arrive at the "conveyor assembly" site.
This technology will make it possible to create about 50 communication satellites weighing 500-1000 kg per year. The Skif and Gonets-M1 spacecraft belong to this class of satellites. It is also planned to use this technology for promising Glonass satellites.
— What does the second concept imply?— The second concept is more focused on the implementation of mass production.
The basic project for the implementation of this approach was the work on the creation of a low-orbit multi-satellite data transmission system "Marathon IoT" with a spacecraft "Marathon" weighing 50 kg. The full orbital grouping of the space system has 264 spacecraft. The first 132 spacecraft are planned to be launched in 2025.
The technical solutions used are based on the principles of deep integration of equipment, the key feature of which is the ideology of building a satellite as a single device.
The basic task, which was solved in the process of implementing layout solutions, was to form the architecture of the device at the satellite level.
The satellite should be made in the form of a monoblock with built-in equipment.
The body of the satellite's space platform is its basis, it is a high—tech structure that simultaneously performs the role of a power element of the product (including protection from external factors) and a "motherboard", into which the means of the thermal control system, the paths of the onboard cable network are integrated, mechanical and electrical interfaces are provided for the installation of equipment.
The placement of equipment is implemented taking into account all existing restrictions in terms of mutual influence, etc. The organization of the approach to the placement and architecture of radio-electronic equipment as a single complex makes it possible to eliminate duplication of radio-electronic components and organize the effective operation of the satellite software. In addition, this approach allows you to reduce the volume of the on-board cable network.
On the basis of the space platform "Marathon Spacecraft" in the near future, it is planned to implement mass production of satellites of various purpose of this class.
— In what condition is the medical complex of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer patients? Are the deadlines for its creation in 2023 still in place?— ISS Company is implementing an initiative project to create a mobile radiation therapy complex based on betatron, a cyclic particle accelerator.
Its use will help reduce the likelihood of recurrence of cancer. Such equipment is being created at the enterprise for the first time.
A prototype of a medical betatron has been used at the Tomsk Research Institute of Oncology for 30 years, but in order to bring it to market, the development had to be made ergonomic and certified.
Within the framework of the project, the Reshetnevskaya firm is responsible for the design, design and final production of the medical complex itself. The company's employees have already developed a 3D model that will be used for the production of this line of devices.
In addition, ISS has started cooperation with the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and the Medical Equipment Consortium. The new partners will assist in developing an individual strategy for promoting medical devices on the market and organizing the certification of the device.
The medical complex created at ISS is designed to become fully domestic equipment available in all regions of our country. It will have a number of advantages over foreign analogues: compactness, lightness, as a result — almost twice the lower price. And also, when using betatron, there will be practically no background radiation, as when using other radiation devices: its effect is spot-based, exclusively on the tumor or bed.
Production of the first sample of the new equipment and its testing are scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. Clinical trials on patients — for 2024. In the future, mass production of mobile radiotherapy complexes will be created on the basis of ISS.
Ekaterina Moskvich was talking
