“Space superiority”: Wernher von Braun's campaign for a nuclear-armed space station, 1946–1956

The literature on the history of spaceflight has depicted the early 1950s Collier’s articles mostly as a forerunner to the peaceful and scientific exploration of space. Yet the centerpiece of Wernher von Braun's plan was a manned space station that would serve as reconnaissance platform and orbiting battle station for achieving “space superiority” over the USSR. One its roles could be the launching of nuclear missiles. When challenged as to the station's defensibility, von Braun even posited pre-emptive atomic strikes from space as a response to the development of a hostile anti-satellite capability.     

Small spacecraft “UNISAT” launched by the “start-1” launcher

The preliminary estimations show that the contemporary level of electronic and information engineering makes it possible to create a small s/c of 150–200 kg mass capable to solve both the problems of Earth remote sensing and many other applied and scientific problems orbiting the planets at 500–1000 km. In accordance with the fundamental criterion for choosing parameters of small multipurpose spacecraft the small UNISAT s/c has been created on the basis of a unified space platform. The design provides for s/c energetic, thermal and space-saving parameters satisfying the conditions for accommodation of various-purpose payload and a possibility of using relatively inexpensive and light launchers like “Start-1” mobile launch complexes. Space platform mass is 100–120 kg; permissible payloads (PL) mass is 40–80 kg; maximal average power consumption of the payload is up to 60 W; three-axes orientation accuracy up to 0.001 deg./s; s/c lifetime is not less than 3–5 years.     

NEO scientific and policy developments, 1995–2000

Scientific and policy developments in the field of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) since the UN NEO conference in 1995 are briefly outlined. Some areas of research and discovery have exhibited considerable progress while others have languished. In particular, facilities in the southern hemisphere for discovery and tracking of NEOs are inadequate. Suggestions are made both at the scientific and technical levels as well as at the policy level to provide coordinated and coherent progress in developing a long-term approach to NEO hazard mitigation. The next step should be the establishment of a panel of international scientific experts on the subject.     

The new UK civil space strategy, 2008–2012

The UK civil space strategy for the years 2008–2012 and beyond was published in February 2008. This paper describes the key features of the strategy and highlights those areas that are new or different from the aims set out in previous strategies. In particular, the strategy lays out a new five-part high-level vision for UK civil space.     

Orbiting solar telescope on “Salyut-4” station

The orbiting solar telescope on Salyut-4 (F = 2,5 m, d = 250 mm) produces images of the Sun on the entrance slit of a stigmatic two-grating spectrograph (R₁ = 1 m, N₁ = 1200 lines/mm; R₂ = 0.5 m, N₂ = 2400 lines/mm, dispersion 16 Å/mm, spectral resolution 0,3 Å). The automatic system keeps the observed solar features on the slit of the spectrograph with an accuracy of 3–4 arc sec. The far UV-spectra (970–1400 Å) of solar flares, brightenings, flocculi and prominences were photographed and fresh coatings of mirrors were made during the flight.     

Nanosatellites and micro systems technology — capabilities, limitations and applications

In recent years Micro Systems Technology (MST) was introduced to manufacture miniaturized components for satellite subsystems, like small sensors, valves, micromotors, antennas and many more. These components can be used to build a new class of satellites weighing considerably less than 10 kg, with the capabilities comparable to present microsatellites. With the possibility of cheap mass production of such nanosatellites new applications become possible. However, the construction of very small satellites is connected with problems concerning launch, orbit control and, deorbiting. Furthermore the reduction of size creates certain limits for power consumption, data rates and optical resolutions which have to be carefully considered.     

The navigational experiments on microgravitational space platform “FOTON-M2”

This paper presents the review of results of the navigating experiments which have been carried out during flight of microgravitational space platform (MSP) Foton-M2 in May–June 2005. The brief characteristic of the created MIRAGE–M equipment consisting from magnitometric system and satellite radionavigation receiver is given. The measurements have allowed to restore unguided MSP movement and to estimate a level of microaccelerations (microgravitations) onboard during flight, and have provided precision time-position binding of the research experiments. The data from the equipments transmitted on the telemetering channel have allowed testing the information technologies of virtual support of experiments in space. Flight testing of the equipment has allowed make a conclusion on usefulness of accommodation onboard the small-sized auxiliary navigating system focused for work with users of research experiments. The experiments on MSP Foton-M2 are the development of experiments with MIRAGE equipment carried out in 1999 during flight time of MSP Foton-12 [N.D. Semkin, V.V. Ivanov, V.I. Abrushkin, V.L. Balakin, I.V. Belokonov, K.E. Voronov, The experiments with magnetic fields formed by technical equipment inside Foton-12 spacecraft: the results of the MIRAGE experiments, in: Proceedings of International Conference “Scientific and Technological Experiments on Russian Foton/Bion Recoverable Satellites: Results, Problems and Outlooks”, 25–30 June 2000, pp. 116–122; V.L. Balakin, I.V. Belokonov, V.V. Ivanov, “Determination of motion of spacecraft Foton-12 as a result of magnetic fields measurement in MIRAGE experiment”, pp. 231–238 (published in the same place)].Paper is executed within the framework of the grant of the Russian Fund of Fundamental Researches 06-08-00244.     

Sputnik fever — again?

The author offers some comments on the drawbacks of another US-Soviet space race. She compares the relative positions of the USA and the USSR in various areas of space science and technology, and concludes that the USSR does not lead in all areas. More importantly, she argues that it is distressing still to be portraying the superpowers as in a race in space. ‘Sputnik fever’ the first time round showed that a space race does not lead to a strong, long-term US space programme. She argues that cooperation in some areas — perhaps a trip to Mars — could b an alternative.