In typical Soviet fashion, Moscow continues to release information in drips and drabs.
What was initially billed as a Russian space race, has now turned into Sino-Russian cooperation.
Now it appears that Russia and China are working on joint moon exploration programme according to the BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union. London: Jan 28, 2006.
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian, 27 Jan 06
Russia and China are working on a joint project to create a research and development testing ground on the Moon that will become the basis for its future industrial exploitation, the head of the design section at the Lavochkin Science and Industry Association, Aleksandr Lukyanchikov, announced today.
"Before building a large manned base, we need to examine the Moon using machines and set up a lunar testing ground, which will become part of the future base," he said at a round table discussion held as part of the Korolev readings [in memory of Soviet space pioneer Sergey Korolev].
Lukyanchikov recalled that the Lavochkin association has much experience in making and operating automated devices, including for use on other planets.
"Russia hasn't had a lunar programme for 30 years but our association hasn't stopped its work on lunar transport," he said. This experience will lie at the plan to set up the lunar testing ground, which will serve both practical and theoretical purposes. The practical purposes include extraction of minerals, primarily helium-3, and also logistic support for future interplanetary flights.
According to the design, the testing ground will include a fleet of light and heavy lunarmobiles, telecommunications and astrophysical systems, launch and landing facilities, large-scale antennae and other features. There is also a suggestion to place in near-lunar orbit a group of satellites to provide communications and scan the Moon's surface.
The testing ground will be created in three phases. Initially, light apparatus will be used to identify the optimal sites for the most interesting research and practical tasks. Then the orbital group will be put into place. During the final phase, heavy lunarmobiles will be sent to the Moon to determine the best places for landing and taking ground samples.
The project will not require major investment because the devices (except the heavy lunarmobiles) can be launched with Rokot or Zenit light booster rockets converted from military use, Lukyanchikov said.
Credit: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1400 27 Jan 06
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