|
Author
|
Topic: [Discuss] Excalibur Almaz' Soviet Almaz RRV
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 24716
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted August 18, 2009 10:00 AM
   
Editor's note: In an effort to keep the topic Excalibur Almaz' commercial Soviet Almaz RRV focused on status updates, reader's feedback and opinions are directed to this thread. Please use this topic to discuss Excalibur Almaz' plan to use updated elements of the Almaz space system developed by JSC MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 24716
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted August 18, 2009 10:28 AM
Spaceflight Now: Beating swords into plough shares with Soviet Almaz The previously top secret reusable reentry vehicle for the Soviet "Almaz" manned military space station will form the backbone of a major new U.S./Russian commercial venture to carry paying research crews on one week missions into Earth orbit by 2013. The reusable reentry vehicle (RRV) venture is being announced today at MAKS, the annual Moscow Air Show at Ramenskoye air base. The project is led by Excalibur Almaz Limited (EA), an international space exploration company that has teamed with the Almaz RRV spacecraft manufacturer and other Russian and U.S. companies. EA is led by Art Dula founder and CEO of the venture. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 1120
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted August 18, 2009 01:03 PM
Any word on whether this vehicle has the capability to dock to the ISS? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 24716
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted August 18, 2009 01:10 PM
The spacecraft's design, according to the EA website, is to operate independently of a space station. EA will offer space flights of up to one week. Each flight will accommodate two or more crewmembers and a commander, along with cargo, scientific experiments or other payloads.The new service module will allow the spacecraft to perform flights of up to one week, without rendezvous with a space station. |
music_space
Member Posts: 1042
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted August 20, 2009 09:07 PM
This spacecraft looks a lot like Perot's Merkur, seen at the National Air and Space Museum (other pages: here and here). Is it the same?A description the of spacecraft with graphics. An article by Dwayne A. Day on Space the Review about the misnoming of Perot's Merkur. A discussion on parent spacecraft, including the Almaz Crew Return Apparatus, on Tim A. Maw's blog: Sven Grahn's TKS page. It did have a hatch through its heat shield to access the module aft. |
David L. Rickman
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted August 21, 2009 11:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by music_space:
Is it the same?
This is indeed the same capsule. The particular capsule displayed is the original display model repainted and fitted with new close-out material in the cabin. quote:
An article by Dwayne A. Day on Space the Review about the misnoming of Perot's Merkur.
That display sign has been changed, as seen on my blog (see next comment). quote:
A discussion on parent spacecraft, including the Almaz Crew Return Apparatus, on Tim A. Maw's blog...
This is actually my blog. Tim Maw was gracious enough to provide me with several great photos of the capsule stored at Khrunichev. quote:
It did have a hatch through its heat shield to access the module aft.
Chelomei himself referred to this as "...the highlight of Almaz." The hatch integrity increases as the outside surface temperature rises during reentry. |
David L. Rickman
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted August 21, 2009 11:30 AM
quote:
Originally posted by GACspaceguy:
Any word on whether this vehicle has the capability to dock to the ISS?
Each launch configuration will be tailored to that particular customers needs. It is expected that this will mainly be individual companies and private passengers working independent of the ISS, however it can be fitted to dock with the ISS if that is required for that mission. Eventually there will be lunar excursions. |
Tonyq
Member Posts: 148
From: UK
Registered: Jul 2004
|
posted September 08, 2009 06:59 AM
Excalibur Almaz will be displaying one of their flown Soviet era capsules in the Isle of Man (where the company is head quartered) later this month. Public viewings will be possible on 20th/26th/27th September.See this initial site - hopefully more comprehensive details will follow. Two ex-cosmonauts will be in attendance, with a display of spacesuits etc. (don't know who they are yet). If any UK based cS'ers are interested in visiting the Isle of Man to attend this unusual opportunity, please e-mail me for travel guidance. (I've no involvement in this event, other than as a member of the public. Just want to help anyone who might be interested to get here.) |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 2828
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted September 08, 2009 10:15 AM
When I read in the "Manx Treasury's Space Commerce Unit" I thought it was a joke but when you check out The Isle of Man in space you see that it is not.Given the IoM's tax advantages it appears that this is the island's key USP, although the term "space-based financial services" conjures up the picture of spacesuited bankers. |
music_space
Member Posts: 1042
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted October 20, 2010 07:53 PM
A few (6) images of the new "Almaz" (mockup? test article?) are available here as a .zip bundle.You can also see a video sequence in this Roscosmos YouTube upload. |
Tonyq
Member Posts: 148
From: UK
Registered: Jul 2004
|
posted April 27, 2011 01:11 PM
Today I visited the Excalibur Almaz hanger at Jurby, Isle of Man for a media event hosted by Col. Valery Tokarev.I am not an engineering specialist - my main interest is in astronauts and cosmonauts, so sorry if I did not photograph all the things people wanted to see. Because I was there as a representative of 'Spaceflight' magazine I must give them first viewing of most of my 70+ photos, but I am happy to post a few here as a preview. I was very surprised that we were allowed inside the most complete module and to take any photographs that we wanted.  
|
Tonyq
Member Posts: 148
From: UK
Registered: Jul 2004
|
posted April 27, 2011 04:33 PM
 
|
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 783
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
|
posted July 09, 2011 11:15 AM
I wasn't aware of this company until today, when a poster on my college alumni message board mentioned in a Shuttle/STS-135 discussion that his brother-in-law (ex-NASA) was working for them.After perusing their website, I'm still not quite sure what their precise mission or business plan is, but they've apparently got some big brains on board, including former astro/cosmonauts Leroy Chiao, Walt Cunningham, Vlad Titov, and Val Tokarev. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 2762
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted October 28, 2011 09:04 PM
EAI has acquired and will update flight-proven legacy hardware — the Almaz Reusable Reentry Vehicle (RRV) pressure vessel, its Emergency Escape System (EES), retro rocket, attitude control subsystem and parachutes. The Russians must be missing a couple of Kazbek seats and VZOR's. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 24716
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted October 28, 2011 09:04 PM
Missing no; sold to Excalibur Almaz, yes (along with the reusable reentry capsule, which flew twice (unmanned) in the 1970s and is now being retrofitted in Houston to fly again, first as an unmanned cargo vehicle and then later as a crewed vehicle. |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 45
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
|
posted June 20, 2012 02:16 AM
UK Sky News reported this morning from the Royal Aeronautical Society's 3rd European Space Tourism Conference in London regarding EA's Lunar Orbit Mission plans.Focusing on a twice-flown RRV Capsule, and featuring interviews with EA CEO Art Dula and Space Tourist Anousheh Ansari, Sky News indicated that a ticket on a Lunar Orbit Mission would cost a cool GBP £100 Million. On my bank loan application form, under the section "Purpose of Loan", I am oscillating between "Vacation" and "Scientific Exploration & Research Mission For The Advancement Of Humanity". I think the latter might just have the edge!  |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 1245
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted June 20, 2012 05:08 AM
I can't see these flights happening for a long time yet, if ever? |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 45
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
|
posted June 20, 2012 07:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Tykeanaut:
I can't see these flights happening for a long time yet, if ever?
It was early morning when the Sky News piece was being broadcast, but I seem to recall them talking of the possibility of a Lunar Orbital Mission 3 years from now. I recall thinking "Wow, that's quite soon!". My understanding is that EA consider their hardware and infrastructure as essentially proven over decades, and that all that is required is to flight-certify a number of engine/electronics/software upgrades, source and train space tourists as part of flight crews, and then proceed to launch. |
Prospero
Member Posts: 85
From: Manchester, UK
Registered: Mar 2006
|
posted June 20, 2012 11:18 AM
I'd have thought they'd be better off concentrating on LEO operations first, taking scientists into space to carry out research. Space tourism to the Moon is a lovely idea, but there can't be too many interested parties around both willing and able to stump up 100 million for a ticket. Whatever their business plan is, I wish them well.
|
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 1245
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted June 21, 2012 10:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by YankeeClipper:
It was early morning when the Sky News piece was being broadcast, but I seem to recall them talking of the possibility of a Lunar Orbital Mission 3 years from now. I recall thinking "Wow, that's quite soon!".
Perhaps I'm a pessimist? But as I said, I can't see it happening for some time, if ever? |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 227
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
|
posted June 21, 2012 07:40 PM
I can't imagine there'd be many boosters out there that are man rated that could send at least 3 people to the moon. Does anyone have any idea what booster they'd be using if they were able to get someone to pony up 100,000,000 pounds to go sightseeing? |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 45
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
|
posted June 22, 2012 10:10 AM
Isle Of Man Firm Offering £100m Trips To MoonEA are confident in their technology base and command some serious industry support. There are more than enough High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in the world capable of outlay on the ultimate adventure. I will be watching EA's space ... |
Saturn V
Member Posts: 146
From: Golden, Colorado, USA
Registered: Nov 2006
|
posted June 22, 2012 12:02 PM
This is all very good news. If they can get people to sign up for tours to the moon (and I think they easily can) then not only will they be making money from that but the independent investors will be showing up as well.A very good trend in the right direction if humans are ever to get back into something beyond LEO. I for one am optimistic... |
advertisement