Founded in May 2019, the private company Reusable Transport Space Systems (MTKS, authorized capital - 400 thousand rubles) signed a cooperation agreement with Roscosmos for 5 years. MTKS, as part of the agreement, pledged to create a reusable spacecraft using composite materials, capable of delivering and returning cargo from the ISS at half the price of SpaceX.
Apparently, we are talking about the creation of the Argo ship, which is described on the MTKS website. It is designed for more than 10 launches, will offer 11 m3 of usable volume of a sealed cargo compartment, will allow delivering up to 2 tons of payload into orbit and returning up to 1 ton. The device will be able to stay in autonomous flight for up to 30 days or up to 300 days as part of an orbital manned station. The structure consists of more than 50% composites, which reduces weight while providing the required strength and rigidity.
The Argo will be equipped with an integrated propulsion system in the lower part: it provides orbital maneuvering, spatial orientation, gas-dynamic descent control, rocket-dynamic landing and, if necessary, evasion from an emergency launch vehicle. When landing on an unprepared surface, a retractable shock-absorbing shield can be used for safety.
Recall, although the American SpaceX conceived its Dragon spacecraft as a reusable spacecraft with rocket-dynamic landing, the company has not yet implemented this. Now both the cargo and manned versions of the device land using a parachute system.
The State Corporation and MTKS will participate in the creation and development of the technological and production base for the design and production of the spacecraft, as well as in maintaining and improving the existing design, production and testing assets of Roscosmos.
Within the framework of cooperation, it is also planned to create a modern production base for the manufacture of parts and structures from composite materials. Research and development work will also be carried out in order to establish mass production of composite parts and structures for their use in the rocket and space industry.
The five-year contract was signed on September 1, 2020 with automatic renewal on the same terms if either party does not wish to terminate cooperation. Resource reported. , and the authenticity of the information was confirmed by the state corporation. The MTKS company is registered in Korolev near Moscow. It is led by Dmitry Kakhno, who, according to SPARK, also heads Energia-Logistics (a subsidiary of RSC Energia, owned by Roscosmos). The beneficiary of MTKS is one of the founders of the Space Research Agency of Kazakhstan and the former CEO of S7 Space Sergey Sopov.
By the way, in July, Mr. Kakhno spoke at parliamentary hearings with on the topic βCreation of a reusable transport spacecraft using public-private partnership mechanisms. Proposals for the inclusion of legal innovations in the legislative acts of the Russian Federation, designed to simplify and facilitate public-private partnerships in the aerospace industry.
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Source: 3dnews.ru