MOSCOW -- In the year since Russia's Zvezda service module was delivered to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, prepping the module for a much-anticipated launch date in July is proving to be a labor of love for the Russians.
"It is important to keep one thing in mind," said Sergey Shaevich, ISS program director at Khrunichev Space Center, in his exclusive interview with SPACE.com. "[The] service module (SM) is ready for launch. Of course, some work still needs to be done on the module, but in the past we launched modules which were much more incomplete than SM and they worked fine, and were later equipped in flight."
Shaevich said that Russia's Mir space station is a good example.
"When the base module was launched in 1986, it had only 50 percent of the necessary outfit. It had, however, equipment [that] assured its proper orbital operation. The rest of the instruments and elements for different systems were delivered later." he said.
"Based on this, I can say that if the Proton vehicle had not failed, SM would have been launched last December. Dont be misled by the number of tests which we currently conduct on SM. The more such tests [that] are done on the ground, the better SM will perform in flight, [but] regardless of how many tests we do, there will also remain a possibility of some minor glitch," said Shaevich.
Overall, 328 tests were conducted on SM through April 24. Forty more still need to be done.
"All the electric tests should be over by the end of April," said Mikhail Synelshchikov, chief of the Manned Flight Directorate at the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, in his exclusive interview with SPACE.com. "It is safe to say that the module is totally outfitted, with the exception of 26 blocks for [the] Orlan 1-M system (Extravehicular Vehicular Activity), and containers with food which will be delivered to the module 60 days before the launch," Synelshchikov said.
"Four major K I-type tests have been flawlessly conducted on SM," said Vladimir Naumov, SM's Chief Designer at Khrunichev, in his exclusive interview with SPACE.com. "K I-1 tested SMs performance during launch and climb; K I-2, during its autonomous flight; K I-3 during docking with FGB; and K I-4 tested data transmission from SM to Earth."
"On April 29, Baikonur specialists will start preparing SM for tests in the decompression chamber," Naumov said. "These tests will mark the beginning of the final stage of SM preparation for the launch in July. The decision to put the module in this chamber should be made by Yuri Koptev himself. Air- tightness tests should be finished by May 14. After this, all SMs systems will undergo a two-week long check-up to see how they withstood the decompression tests."
Naumov then said the next step would be to check the adjustment of six Canadian aiming devices used to properly position SM before it docks with the Functional Cargo Block (FGB), the technical name for the currently orbiting Zarya module that is linked with the U.S.' -Unity module.
"Then, SM will be loaded with cargo, including flight suites, garment, medical equipment, etc" said Naumov. "The installation of solar panels should begin at the end of May and be finished by mid-June. Then the fairing will be put on SM, and a padding separating SM from the third stage will be attached to the module. After these procedures, the module will be weighted. Having determined the SMs real weight, the Baikonur personnel will fuel the module. Then, at the end of June, SM will be put on the launch vehicle. On July 3rd, the vehicle will be installed on the launch pad and ready for the launch scheduled for July 8th."
A Proton launch vehicle that is supposed to deliver SM to orbit was given special care and attention.
"The engines were checked by a special endoscope which allowed the specialists to see their most remote areas," said Shaevich. "The engines also went through ground firing tests. Turbopumps and gas generators were reinforced and the engines overall heat resistance was increased. All the modifications were considered, proposed and approved by the most experienced Russian rocket specialists, including representatives from the Russian Academy of Sciences and Central Scientific Research Institute of Machine Building. (TsNIIMash). It is important to note, however, that the rocket could fly without such modifications. We just want to increase its reliability to a highest possible degree."
Three Proton boosters were launched following the
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