The S.A. Lavochkin NGO has repeatedly created interplanetary automatic stations, Earth remote sensing satellites, upper stages for launching spacecraft into orbit, as well as observatories for studying the Universe. The company manufactured the Luna-25 station, which was able to enter lunar orbit, but on August 19 last year it was lost as a result of a collision with the surface of the Moon. Now Lavochkin's NGO is creating a new device that will study the Moon from orbit. Dmitry Yaremenko, General Director of the Lavochkin NGO, spoke about Russian lunar projects, the creation of small spacecraft, as well as plans for flights to Venus and other planets in Space.
Multi-satellite groupings
— NPO Lavochkina participates in the project of the multi-satellite remote sensing group of the Earth "Autograph". What kind of work is currently underway on it?
— Within the framework of this project, NPO Lavochkina JSC has signed an agreement for the creation of the first two small Pixel-BP spacecraft, the development of working design documentation for their manufacture is currently being completed, ground-based experimental testing is underway, a product for vibrodynamic tests is being manufactured and preparations for their implementation are underway.
— Have the devices themselves already been created?
— Spacecraft are under development. We have started manufacturing the components.
— When will they be handed over to the customer?
— Within the time limits set by the agreement: in 2025, the first device, in 2026 – the second.
— Has a new platform been created for subsequent Pixel-VR devices? What will it be called, what are its features?
— Lavochkin's NGO is working on the development of Berkut-BP Earth remote sensing satellites. These satellites are being created on the basis of the unified platform "Tiporyad", which is being created taking into account the possibility of mass production. This platform is being developed with maximum use of the promising unified avionics of JSC Russian Space Systems, which is being designed as part of the development work (R&D) of IBIS. The creation of these spacecraft together with the development of the Berkut series satellites is in fact the first step in the creation of Russian multi-satellite orbital groupings.
After the accident of Luna-25, the flight pattern of the lunar stations was changed
— What is the stage of work on the Luna-26 interplanetary station?
— Work on the Luna-Resurs-1 ROC (Luna-26 orbiter) is in the active phase. Currently, the adjustment of design documentation related to the implementation of import substitution measures is being completed. Autonomous tests of on-board instruments and systems, experimental spacecraft products are being conducted.
— When is the delivery of all scientific equipment expected?
— The delivery of a flight sample of the scientific equipment complex is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.
— In October 2023, Roscosmos reported on the possibility of changing the flight scheme of Luna-26 to a natural satellite of the Earth, taking into account the experience of Luna-25. Has the decision been made to change the flight pattern?
— Taking into account the results of flight tests of Luna-25, the flight schedule was changed.
These changes will increase the intervals between critical mission operations, which will give additional time to analyze the state of on-board systems and the spacecraft as a whole, and will increase the volume of ground verification of flight assignments before boarding.
— How long will the flight to the moon take?
— The flight to the Moon according to the new scheme will take approximately 22 days.
— Is the flight of Luna-26 supposed to take place over the site of an emergency lunar landing of Luna-25? Will this place be photographed?
— Luna-26 will operate in an orbit close to the polar (passing through the poles) and fly over the entire surface of the Moon. Target shooting of the specified area is not planned.
— What are the launch dates for Luna-26 at the moment, including backup dates?
— The launch of Luna-26 is scheduled for September 2027 with a backup date in October 2027.
Luna-27 will land near the South Pole of the Earth satellite
— What kind of work is underway on the Luna-27 spacecraft, which is supposed to attempt a lunar landing?
— Import substitution work is currently being completed on the Luna-27 spacecraft. Stands are being prepared for throwing tests in order to test the landing device and study the dynamics of the device during landing.
— Will a Moon-27 stand-in be created to increase the chances of a successful lunar landing?
— The decision to create a stand-in is still being worked out, but has not yet been finalized.
— When is the launch planned, has the lunar landing site already been selected?
— The landing site will be selected near the South Pole of the Moon. Currently, the main and backup landing sites of the spacecraft are being worked out.
— Has any work been done on the errors after the Luna-25 accident? Based on the results of the work of the emergency commission, what measures have been taken to prevent a similar situation with Luna-27?
— Based on the results of the work of the emergency commission, a sufficiently detailed set of measures has been developed to improve the experimental testing system, as well as to ensure functional control of the condition of devices and assemblies during tests at the plant, cosmodrome and flight tests. A number of flight experiments are planned on the Luna-26 orbiter to test interaction in outer space with key instruments of the onboard control complex of the Luna-27 lander.
— Have all European instruments for Russian lunar missions been replaced with domestic analogues? Maybe there are plans to cooperate with other countries?
— All European service instruments for the Russian Luna-26 and Luna-27 spacecraft have been replaced with Russian analogues. Taking into account the current stage of the projects, there are no plans to install foreign devices on board.
— Are there plans to cooperate on lunar topics with the NGO "Android Technology"?
— NGO "Android Technology" is one of the leading domestic enterprises that creates robotic complexes, including space applications. Therefore, of course, we consider him as a potential co-executor in new projects related to robotics.
Russian automatic stations "aimed" at Venus, and then at other planets
— If we talk about other interplanetary stations, has the preliminary design of the Venus-D spacecraft begun this year?
— The terms of reference have now been agreed upon. But we consider it premature to talk about this in more detail before approving the draft Federal Space Program of Russia for 2026-2035 or another program document. So we are waiting for the "go-ahead".
— Initially, the United States was supposed to participate in this project, but later it was decided to abandon it. Will other countries be involved in the creation of Venus-D?
— Venera-D is an open project in the initial design stage. There are opportunities for cooperation, especially in the scientific components of the complex. The Academy of Sciences is working in this direction.
— When will the production of Venus-D in iron begin?
— Some important components of the components will begin to be implemented in the form of layouts at the stage of the preliminary design. Actually, the project provides for a separate stage dedicated to the full-fledged experimental development of technical solutions.
— To which other planets does NPO Lavochkina plan to send its automatic stations?
— The potential participation of Lavochkin's NGO in the research of the Mars, Jupiter and Saturn systems is being considered. But these are tasks of the future.
Alena Chiley
