Аннотация: Russial-Chinese lunar station in period of GLEX. An essay.
Russial-Chinese lunar station in period of GLEX. An essay.
On March 9, 2021, in the format of a video conference, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the creation of an International Scientific Lunar Station (ISL).
On June 16, 2021, at the international conference on space exploration GLEX-2021 (in St. Petersburg), a roadmap for the construction of the International Science Station on the Moon was presented.
A status of roadmap - what is it? What is this document? Memorandum ("memo"), protocol on understanding, international agreement? Are the corresponding financial costs included in the budget law?
The roadmap assumes space launches, the creation of technology for the exploration and research of the Moon, the deployment of "infrastructure in the orbit and on the surface of the Moon, including communication complexes, as well as electric power, research and other equipment" (https://tass.ru/kosmos/11665005 ? utm_source = yxnews & utm_medium = desktop)
"Station" is a complex concept. For example, will the planned station be a habitable "cosmic house" or not?
It is supposed to "develop technologies for the unmanned operation of infrastructure with the prospect of a long-term presence of a human on the Earth satellite." (https://ria.ru/20210616/stantsiya-1737225324.html?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop) So, in one phrase both "unmanned operation" and "presence of a human" are combined.
What appears to be significant, if to look at a new round of activity around the lunar station project?
First. The presence or absence of a spacecraft (space devices - in a broader sense) for flights with a person on board into deep space (into deep space - that is, beyond the limits of near-earth orbit). Russia does not currently have such a ship.
Second. The availability (the presence) of monetary resources. Now there is no clarity with the Russial station in near-earth orbit. In this situation, should the plans to participate in creation of the lunar station be assessed as realistic?
Third. Features of the current state of the space industry in Russia. Space technology, which was created in the Soviet era and has shown its reliability during numerous launches, is working more or less steadily. Mainly, launches into low-earth orbit are in the center of positive attention. As for the exploration of Mars, the Moon and other celestial bodies - the United States and China have achievements, and what can modern Russia boast of at the moment?
These three factors raise doubts about the reality of significant Russial participation in the creation of the station, which at the moment mid-level officials call "Russial-Chinese".
Why is this project needed?
It is unlikely that China is counting on significant Russial participation in the lunar station project. For the appearance of possible doubts, it is enough to look at the situation with the Russial station in near-earth orbit.
However, it is important for China to become a legal leader in space exploration.
He has now de facto moved Russia from first to third place in the list of great space powers.
At the same time, in the eyes of public opinion, Russia still remains a legal cosmic leader - many do not understand the details, others 'simply believe' in Russia.
A legal leader's brand costs a certain amount of money. An indirect example can be the visits of some representatives of the House of Romanov, who were visiting Russia during the Yeltsin era and issued documents to interested persons on conferring sonorous noble titles. More than a hundred years have passed since 1917, but such documents have a certain price!
It looks quite logical that China's desire to transfer, to move from Russia to China the title of the space leader of mankind - with the consent and with the assistance of the actors of modern Russia.
In this hypothetical reputation action, both GLEX and the Russial-Chinese lunar station act as tools for solving the task.
As for the Soviet-Russial cosmonautics - if it still exists - it is in its interests to hand the corresponding brand (title) to Western Europe and the United States.
June 19, 2021 11:05
Translation from Russian into English: June 19, 2021 12:09.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Российско-китайская лунная станция на этапе GLEX. Очерк'.