In the coming years, it is planned to introduce three new Russian units into the International Space Station (ISS): these are the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module (MLM), the Prichal node module, and the scientific and energy module (NEM). According to the RIA Novosti online publication, for the last two blocks it is planned to use anti-meteorite protection from domestic materials.
It is noted that specialists from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) took part in the creation of the protection of the first module of the ISS - the Zarya functional cargo block. Similar protection has the Science module, which was originally designed as a stand-in for Dawn.
However, for the Prichal block and NEM, a new protection based on Russian body armor materials has been developed. βThe basalt and body armor fabrics from which the structure of the intermediate screen was composed were not inferior in properties to the Nextel and Kevlar fabrics used in the screen protection of NASA modules,β says the Space Engineering and Technologies magazine published by RSC Energia.
We add that now 14 modules are involved in the ISS. The Russian segment includes the aforementioned Zarya unit, the Zvezda service module, the Pirs docking module, as well as the Poisk small research module and the Rassvet docking and cargo module.
It is planned to operate the International Space Station until at least 2024, but negotiations are already underway to extend the life of the orbital complex.
Source: 3dnews.ru