In 2019, the state corporation Roscosmos provided launches of 25 rockets, and This is 6 more missiles launched than in 2018. The Corporation emphasizes that the result was achieved by the selfless work of all employees of the rocket and space industry. Selflessness at work is commendable, but it would be better if we heard the wording about the effective work of highly paid specialists.
73 spacecraft were launched into various orbits. The domestic navigation group received two updated Glonass-M satellites. The Russian orbital constellation today includes 92 spacecraft for socio-economic, scientific and navigation purposes.
3 launches of transport cargo ships and one in an unmanned cargo-returning version were carried out. 9 station crew members, more than 5 tons of cargo and the results of scientific and applied research, including biological tissues of humans and animals printed in space for the first time, were delivered to the ISS, and after work were returned to Earth.
The crew of the Russian Segment of the ISS performed one EVA lasting 6 hours. In addition, in June 2019, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set a new record for total stay on board the station - 737 days. On July 31, 2019, the Progress MS-12 cargo spacecraft arrived at the ISS in a record 3 hours and 19 minutes after launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, reaching the orbital station the fastest in the world.
During the implementation of the manned program, a transition was made from Soyuz-FG launch vehicles with a Ukrainian-made analog control system to the use of Soyuz-2.1a rockets with a Russian-made digital control system in order to increase the launch accuracy, stability and controllability.
Russian cosmonauts on the ISS received the first experience of using an anthropomorphic robot (Skybot F-850, FEDOR), which should allow the use of such complexes for work in outer space in the future. A draft design of a super-heavy-class launch vehicle, which opens up opportunities for the exploration of the Moon and deep space, has been approved. However, its first launch is scheduled for the distant 2028.
On July 13, the Spektr-RG space astrophysical observatory, created with the participation of Germany on the order of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was successfully launched. The observatory is equipped with two X-ray mirror telescopes: ART-XC (IKI RAS, Russia) and eROSITA (MPE, Germany).
The implementation of the largest Russian-European project ExoMars continues. Preparations are underway for the implementation of the second stage of ExoMars 2020, within the framework of which it is planned to conduct a program of exploration of Mars both using remote sensing, and from aboard the European rover and the Russian landing platform.
Taking into account previous experience, the construction of all objects of the second stage of the Angara space rocket complex at the Vostochny cosmodrome is being carried out in accordance with the schedule. And in Moscow, construction work has begun on the construction of the National Space Center, where the leading organizations of the industry, the central office, the scientific and technical center, the industry bank and the business diversification center will be located.
Source: 3dnews.ru