Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex
Encyclopedia
The Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex (Orbitalniy Pilotiruemyi Eksperimentalniy Kompleks) (OPSEK) is the planned Russian
successor to the International Space Station
, with the main goal of supporting deep space exploration.
(Roskosmos) plans to detach some of its modules, such as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module
(to be launched to the ISS in 2012), and use them as the basis for a new space station. The main purpose of OPSEK would be to support eventual manned Mars missions
. All the main components of such a Mars expedition would first dock at the station, before leaving for Mars. As a secondary role, the station would also support lunar expeditions.
On 17 June 2009, Roskosmos officially informed its ISS partner, the United States
, about its intention to "build and prepare for operation the first elements of the orbital assembly and experimental piloted space complex by the end of the ISS life cycle."
According to the Russian manned spaceflight contractor RKK Energia, the new station must be able to perform the following tasks:
modules around the time of OPSEK separation (2015/2020) arranged by launch dates:
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
successor to the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
, with the main goal of supporting deep space exploration.
Overview
Before the predicted decommissioning of the International Space Station in the late 2010's to 2020's, the Russian Federal Space AgencyRussian Federal Space Agency
The Russian Federal Space Agency , commonly called Roscosmos and abbreviated as FKA and RKA , is the government agency responsible for the Russian space science program and general aerospace research. It was previously the Russian Aviation and Space Agency .Headquarters of Roscosmos are located...
(Roskosmos) plans to detach some of its modules, such as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module
Multipurpose Laboratory Module
Nauka , also known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module , , will be a component of the International Space Station , funded by the Russian Federal Space Agency. In the original ISS plans, Nauka was to use the location of the Docking and Stowage Module...
(to be launched to the ISS in 2012), and use them as the basis for a new space station. The main purpose of OPSEK would be to support eventual manned Mars missions
Manned mission to Mars
A manned mission to Mars has been the subject of science fiction, engineering, and scientific proposals throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century...
. All the main components of such a Mars expedition would first dock at the station, before leaving for Mars. As a secondary role, the station would also support lunar expeditions.
On 17 June 2009, Roskosmos officially informed its ISS partner, the United States
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, about its intention to "build and prepare for operation the first elements of the orbital assembly and experimental piloted space complex by the end of the ISS life cycle."
According to the Russian manned spaceflight contractor RKK Energia, the new station must be able to perform the following tasks:
- Large spacecraft assembly
- Flight tests and launches
- Creating, servicing and completing inter-orbital tugs
- Providing medical and biological conditions required for the rehabilitation of inter-planetary expedition crews after their return to Earth orbit.
Modules
Expected Russian Orbital SegmentRussian Orbital Segment
The Russian Orbital Segment is the name given to the components of the International Space Station constructed in Russia and operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency...
modules around the time of OPSEK separation (2015/2020) arranged by launch dates:
- 1998, ZaryaZaryaZarya , also known as the Functional Cargo Block or FGB , was the first module of the International Space Station to be launched. The FGB provided electrical power, storage, propulsion, and guidance to the ISS during the initial stage of assembly...
(FGB-1) - owned by NASA, could be traded for Soyuz/Progress flights in the 2013-2015/2020 timeframe - 2012, Nauka (FGB-2) - to form part of OPSEK
- 2013, Nodal Module (if approved) - to form part of OPSEK
- 2014, Science-Power Module-1 (if approved) - to form part of OPSEK
- 2015, Science-Power Module-2 (if approved) - to form part of OPSEK
See also
- Russian Orbital SegmentRussian Orbital SegmentThe Russian Orbital Segment is the name given to the components of the International Space Station constructed in Russia and operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency...
External links
- Great Images in NASA library
- International Space Station: Station Structure
- OPSEK information page
- Presentation, by Head of Russian Federal Space Agency, June 17, 2009