Russia’s Commercial Space Station: Second Destination in Low-Earth Orbit

Written by AndroidRed Monday, 04 October 2010 15:49

Orbital Technologies and Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia) are to Russian-based companies that have decided to work together under an important project to construct a commercial space station that is said to become a second destination in low-Earth orbit. The commercial space station which had been planned is called Commercial Space Station or CSS.

These companies claimed that the project will include the building, launching, and operating the station, and further information stated that the project will be carried out by private citizens, professional crews and corporate researchers who have a great interest in conducting scientific programs.

The CEO of Orbital Technologies, Sergey Kostenko, CSS is designed with the purpose to provide a unique destination for commercial, state, and private spaceflight exploration mission. As a valuable asset, CSS development will be working with corporate entities, state government and private individuals all over the world.

According to the report, CSS is designed to accommodate more than seven people by utilizing ‘modules and technologies of the highest quality as well as reliability which are about to use in the construction of the station.’ The aim is to direct the private sector in commercializing human spaceflight platforms in low Earth orbit.

Furthermore, it is confirmed that CSS is going to be under service of Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. The presence of second space station in orbit will give alternative to the crew of the International Space Station to leave ISS under particular condition. As stated by Alexey Krasnov, Head of Manned Spaceflight Departement, Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation, this certain condition is when there is a required maintenance procedure or a real emergency should occur, without the need to return ISS crew to Earth.

However, the major goal of the CSS is to become a focal point for commercial activity, scientific research and improvement in low Earth orbit. According to Orbital Technologies, there are already several customers who have been under contract who came from different segment of industry as well as the scientific community. The variety of areas presented including medical research and protein crystallization, geographic imaging, materials processing, and remote sensing industry.

In addition, Sergey Kostenko claimed that these two companies have proposals written for the implementation of media projects. Surely, some parties who learn about this may become more excited even in short duration stays on the station for enjoyment. Also, CSS is hoped to become the true gateway for the rest of solar system.