The State Corporation Roskosmos intends to significantly improve the new module, which will soon go to the International Space Station (ISS).
This is the Science and Energy Module, or SEM. It will be able to provide the Russian segment of the ISS with electricity, and will also improve the living conditions of astronauts.
According to RIA Novosti, Roskosmos plans to allocate 9 billion rubles to improve the characteristics of the NEM. The money, in particular, will be used to increase the capacity of this unit. It is said that 2,7 billion rubles will be provided in 2020, another 2,6 billion rubles - in 2021. The introduction of a new module into the ISS will increase the volume of free space, which will significantly expand the program of research and experiments.
It is noted that the launch of the block into orbit is planned for 2023. The launch will be carried out from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Proton-M launch vehicle. We add that now 14 modules are involved in the orbital space complex. The Russian Segment of the ISS includes the Zarya module, the Zvezda service module, the Pirs docking module, as well as the Poisk small research module and the Rassvet docking and cargo module.
Source: 3dnews.ru