Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex

Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex
Орбитальный Пилотируемый Сборочно-Экспериментальный Комплекс
Orbital'nyj Pilotirujemyj Sborochno-Eksperimental'nyj Kompleks

Computer-generated depiction of OPSEK
Station statistics
Crew	2 or more
Launch	2020s
Launch pad	Baikonur Cosmodrome
Mass	over 100,000 kg when complete
Atmospheric pressure	1 atm
Perigee	370 to 450 km (planned)
Apogee	370 to 450 km (planned)
Orbital inclination	70 degrees (planned)
Typical orbit altitude	370 to 450 km (planned)
Orbital speed	approx 28,000 km/h
Orbital period	approx 90 minutes
Orbits per day	approx 15
Days in orbit	0
Days occupied	0
Number of orbits	0

The Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex (Russian: Орбитальный Пилотируемый Сборочно-Экспериментальный Комплекс, Orbital'nyj Pilotirujemyj Sborochno-Eksperimental'nyj Kompleks)^[1][2] (ОПСЭК, OPSEK) is a Russian proposed third-generation modular space station in Low Earth orbit. OPSEK would initially consist of modules from the Russian Orbital Segment of the International Space Station (ISS).

The proposal would use OPSEK to assemble components of manned interplanetary spacecraft destined for Mars, the Moon, and possibly Saturn. The returning crew would also recover on the station before landing on Earth. This OPSEK could form part of a future network of stations supporting manned exploration of the Solar System.

Overview

Before the predicted decommissioning of the International Space Station in the 2020s, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) plans to detach some of its modules, such as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (which has not yet launched to the ISS), and use them as the basis for a new space station.^[3]

On 17 June 2009, Roscosmos officially informed its ISS partner NASA about its intention to "build and prepare for operation the first elements of the orbital assembly and experimental piloted space complex by the end of the ISS life cycle."^[3]

According to the Russian manned spaceflight contractor RKK Energia, the new station must be able to perform the following tasks:^[4]

• Large spacecraft assembly
• Flight tests and launches
• Creating, servicing and completing inter-orbital tugs
• Providing medical and biological conditions required for the rehabilitation of interplanetary expedition crews after their return to Earth orbit.

Structure

OPSEK will follow the Salyut and Almaz series, Cosmos 557, and Mir as the 12th Russian space station launched. OPSEK is a third generation^[5] modular space station.^[6]

Other examples of modular station projects include the Soviet/Russian MIR, the International Space Station, Tiangong 3, and the Chinese space station. The first space station, Salyut 1, and other one-piece or "monolithic" first generation space stations, such as Salyut 2,3,4,5, DOS 2, Kosmos 557, Almaz, and NASA's Skylab station, were not designed for re-supply.^[7] Generally, each crew had to depart the station to free the only docking port for the next crew to arrive. Skylab had more than one docking port but was not designed for resupply. Salyut 6 and 7 had more than one docking port and were designed to be resupplied routinely during crewed operation.^[8] Modular stations can allow the mission to be changed over time and new modules can be added or removed from the existing structure, allowing greater flexibility.

Annotated image of the International space station's Russian Orbital Segment configuration as of 2011

Modules

Expected Russian Orbital Segment modules around the time of OPSEK separation (2020 or later) arranged by launch dates:

• 2000, Zvezda (DOS-8) - potential part of OPSEK^[9]
• 2009, Poisk (MRM-2) - potential part of OPSEK

Poisk (Russian: По́иск; lit. Search), also known as the Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM 2), Малый исследовательский модуль 2, or МИМ 2. Poisk is a Russian airlock module with two identical hatches. Its predecessor, Pirs, is used to store, service, and refurbish Russian Orlan suits. The outermost docking ports on both airlocks allow docking of Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, and the automatic transfer of propellants to and from storage on the station.^[10]

Rassvet, left of center with the Russian science airlock temporarily stored on its side

• 2017, Nauka (FGB-2) - to form part of OPSEK

Nauka (Russian: Нау́ка; lit. Science), also known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) or FGB-2, (Russian: Многофункциональный лабораторный модуль, or МЛМ), is the major Russian laboratory module. This module will be separated from the ISS before de-orbit with support modules to become the OPSEK space station. It contains an additional set of life support systems and orientation control. Nauka's mission has changed over time; during the mid-1990s it was intended as a backup for the first FGB, and later as a universal docking module (UDM). Its docking ports will be able to support automatic docking of both spacecraft, additional modules and fuel transfer. Prior to the arrival of the MLM, a Progress robotic spacecraft will dock with the ISS PIRS module, depart with that module, and both will be discarded. Nauka will then use its own engines to attach itself to the ROS after 2014.^[11] The European Robotic Arm, which will service the Russian Orbital Segment, will be launched alongside the MLM.^[12]

Computer generated image of the ROS after Nauka docking.

• 2017, Uzlovoy Module - to form part of OPSEK

Node Module (UM)/(NM) This 4-ton ball shaped module will support the docking of two scientific and power modules during the final stage of the station assembly and provide the Russian segment additional docking ports to receive Soyuz TMA (transportation modified anthropometric) and Progress M spacecraft. NM is to be incorporated into the ISS in 2016. It will be integrated with a special version of the Progress cargo ship and launched by a standard Soyuz rocket. The Progress would use its own propulsion and flight control system to deliver and dock the Node Module to the nadir (Earth-facing) docking port of the Nauka MLM/FGB-2 module. One port is equipped with an active hybrid docking port, which enables docking with the MLM module. The remaining five ports are passive hybrids, enabling docking of Soyuz and Progress vehicles, as well as heavier modules and future spacecraft with modified docking systems. More importantly, the node module was conceived to serve as the only permanent element of OPSEK. Equipped with six docking ports, the Node Module would serve as a single permanent core of the future station with all other modules coming and going as their life span and mission required.^[13][14] Uzlovoy will be launched after Nauka MLM; launch dates will be 2017 or later ^[15]

• Science and Power Module 1 (NEM-1) - to form part of OPSEK.^[16]

ROS Modules not utilized in OPSEK

Russian Orbital Segment modules scheduled for de-orbiting:

• 2014, Pirs (DC-1) - to be de-orbited before the launch of MLM Nauka and that module will utilize the current Pirs port at the ISS.

Russian Orbital Segment modules that are neither scheduled for de-orbit nor included in the OPSEK proposals:

• 1998, Zarya (FGB-1) - owned by NASA,^[17] could be traded for Soyuz/Progress flights after currently contracted flights^[18][19][20] are exhausted.
• 2010, Rassvet (MRM-1) - currently docked at Zarya;^[21] if Zarya is not utilized in OPSEK it would have to be moved to another ROS/OPSEK docking location.

References

External links

• OPSEK information page
• Presentation, by Head of Russian Federal Space Agency, June 17, 2009

Youtube

• Russian space agency youtube channel

Image galleries

• RSC Energia: Science Research on ISS Russian Segment

Space agency websites

 European Space Agency,  Russia (Energia),  Russia (Federal),

Soviet and Russian space program
Russian Federal Space Agency
Launch sites	Baikonur Cosmodrome (in Kazakhstan) Dombarovsky Kapustin Yar Plesetsk Cosmodrome Svobodny Cosmodrome Vostochny Cosmodrome
Launch vehicles	Angara Proton Soyuz
Human spaceflight Programs	Previous Vostok Voskhod Salyut Almaz (incorporated into Salyut program) / TKS Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (joint) Mir Shuttle–Mir (joint) Energia / Buran Cancelled Zond (7K-L1) (Moon flyby) Soviet manned lunar programs (Moon landing) Zvezda (moonbase) TMK (Mars/Venus flyby) Spiral Zvezda Zarya MAKS Kliper Active International Space Station (joint) Russian Orbital Segment Soyuz In development Federation
Robotic Programs	Previous DS (1960-1977) Prognoz (1972-1996) Astron (1983) Granat (1989) Gamma (1990) Mars 96 (failed) (1996) Resurs-DK No.1 (2006) Koronas-Foton (2009) Fobos-Grunt (failed) (2011) Active Bion-M Elektro–L ExoMars (joint) Meteor-M Resurs-P Spektr-R In development Luna-Glob Luna 27 Spektr-RG Spektr-UV
Communications	Luch (satellite) Soviet Deep Space Network
Concept	Baikal-Angara Laplace-P Mars-Grunt Mercury-P OPSEK Spektr-M Venera-D
See also: Space industry of Russia Russian Aerospace Defence Forces

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