Russia Stands Ready for Manned Flights to Mars
Manned space missions to the Moon may resume in 2015-2020, Anatoly Perminov, head of the Federal Space Agency of Russia (Roskosmos) announced Wednesday. Man-controlled flights to Mars will begin in 2030.
The U.S. space program requires that starting from 2020 the Moon is to become a nesting place for flights to other planets, including Mars. To this effect, manned space missions to the Moon will resume in 2015.
Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan are pressing ahead with the space programs focused on the Moon/Mars flights. At first, it is necessary to master space assembly. Then, flights to the Moon and Mars could be planned, Perminov pointed out.
Federal Space Agency launches in 2006 the simulation stage of its Mars-500 project, which financing started in March of 2005. The project is carried on in line with the national space program of arranging manned missions to Mars and sets forth assembly of a spaceship that will simulate space environment.
Starting from 2006, six volunteers, from 35 to 55 years old, perhaps from different countries, will be confined to a module spaceship 500 days long. The experts will study response of a human body and equipment operation in conditions close to the Mars flight.
Though the Agency's press service declines to disclose the project budget, the sources say 18,268.63 million rubles will be allocated for the federal space program in 2005 from the 25,156.40-million ruble budget of the Agency.
The Agency studies all chances to apply nuclear facilities in the Mars flights. Perminov said some projects are existing, including the project of Russian scientist Evgeny Velikhov. Such units were created and put in operation, but the projects were terminated due to the lack of funds. Still, there are research institutes in Russia that proceed with developing similar facilities, Perminov pointed out.
Perminov also called for the 29.7-percent increase in financing Russia’s space industry in 2006 compared to 24 billion rubles planned for that purpose. The funds are needed to commission 26 space vehicles finished by 80 percent-90 percent to-date. The U.S. space program requires that starting from 2020 the Moon is to become a nesting place for flights to other planets, including Mars. To this effect, manned space missions to the Moon will resume in 2015.Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan are pressing ahead with the space programs focused on the Moon/Mars flights. At first, it is necessary to master space assembly. Then, flights to the Moon and Mars could be planned, Perminov pointed out.Federal Space Agency launches in 2006 the simulation stage of its Mars-500 project, which financing started in March of 2005. The project is carried on in line with the national space program of arranging manned missions to Mars and sets forth assembly of a spaceship that will simulate space environment.Starting from 2006, six volunteers, from 35 to 55 years old, perhaps from different countries, will be confined to a module spaceship 500 days long. The experts will study response of a human body and equipment operation in conditions close to the Mars flight.Though the Agency's press service declines to disclose the project budget, the sources say 18,268.63 million rubles will be allocated for the federal space program in 2005 from the 25,156.40-million ruble budget of the Agency.The Agency studies all chances to apply nuclear facilities in the Mars flights. Perminov said some projects are existing, including the project of Russian scientist Evgeny Velikhov. Such units were created and put in operation, but the projects were terminated due to the lack of funds. Still, there are research institutes in Russia that proceed with developing similar facilities, Perminov pointed out.Perminov also called for the 29.7-percent increase in financing Russia’s space industry in 2006 compared to 24 billion rubles planned for that purpose. The funds are needed to commission 26 space vehicles finished by 80 percent-90 percent to-date. by www.kommersant.com
Nenhum país enviou uma missão tripulada à lua desde o programa Apolo dos sessenta e setenta.

O Japão anunciou nesta quarta-feira um programa para enviar astronautas à Lua no ano 2025. O plano almeja a construção de  uma base lunar que seria operada por  astronautas e robôs japoneses.

"Até agora a pergunta tem sido:'O Japão pode desenvolver sua própria nave espacial tripulada?' Saberemos a resposta dentro de  10 anos", disse o presidente da Agência de  Exploração Aeroespacial do Japão  (JAXA), Keiji Tachikawa, à Associated Press.

O plano inclui o desenvolvimento de  robôs e nanotecnologia, além do desenho de  um veículo espacial que levaria passageiros e ônus à Lua. A JAXA solicitou um aumento no orçamento de  cerca de  US$2600 milhões ao ano para sustentar o programa.

O professor aeroespacial Taketoshi Hibiya, quem trabalha no Instituto Metropolitano de  Tecnologia de  Tokio, questionou o valor de  ir à Lua. ''"Se esperam gastar recursos energéticos, por  exemplo, a questão é se é possível ganhar mais energia do que se  gasta para ir e voltar da Lua"'', disse Hibiya a  Reuters. ''"Como cientistas, queremos experimentar de tudo, inclusive vôos tripulados, se conseguirmos obter  dinheiro. Infelizmente, o orçamento do país não vai por um bom caminho ultimamente."''

O Japão possui um déficit nacional de  751 bilhões de  ienes (US$6,94 biliões). O Japão poderia decidir num prazo de  10 anos levar a  cabo seu programa lunar por conta própria ou unir-se a  outros países.

Nenhum país enviou uma missão tripulada à Lua desde o programa Apollo dos sessenta e setenta. chinesa e Rússia planejam por  sua conta programas lunares. China enviaria um satélite à Lua no 2007, enquanto Rússia planeja enviar pessoal a  nosso satélite entre 2015 e 2020 como parte de  um programa maior com o objetivo de  enviar uma missão a  Marte.

A próxima missão da JAXA programada para explorar a Lua utiliza a  sonda ''SELENE''. Estava programada para ser lançada este ano, mas foi adiada por  razões desconhecidas.