Standard elements

The system of SOS (Small Orbit Station) must base on the operation in various combinations of the following orbital objects - standard elements of SOS:

1. The usual transport manned spacecraft (TMSC) "Soyuz",
2. The usual transport cargo spacecraft (TCSC) "Progress",
3. The cargo module-spacecraft "Docking module" (DM) designed for ISS,
4. Modernized non-manned spacecraft (MNMSC) on basis of TPSC "Soyuz",
5. Service & power module (SPM) on basis of DM,
6. Docking adapter (DA) on basis of DM,
7. Laboratory module (LM) on basis of CR "Soyuz", " Soyuz-FG".
8. Laboratory module (LM-B) on basis of CR "Aurora", " Soyuz-2".

The connections of two, three, four or five such spacecrafts (modules) shall allow to solve a sufficiently wide range of problems in the space. Meanwhile, each connection has qualitative differences in possibilities of fulfillment of one or another tasks. It allows to solve tasks on the orbit with minimum surplus of means applied.

Three elements of the above mentioned six elements of SOS - TMSC, TCSC and DM - are at present ready for the exploitation by the spacecrafts "Energiya" and, consequently, do not require any additional means for development. The development duration of other three system elements - MNMSC, SPM and LM - is to be 1:3 years. So, the beginning of the manned programs should be ensured in the current year (by connections of traditional space means). During the next three years missions with extended range of tasks are to be fulfilled consecutively (with appearance of new elements) and in 3-4 years an orbital station based on new (different from ISC) principles of operation and development will operate on the orbit.

ðransport manned spacecraft (TMSC) "Soyuz"

TMSC "Soyuz" (fig.1) ) is intended for delivery of the crew of two or three persons to near-earth orbit up to 450 km high, active docking to orbital objects, live-support of the crew up to 5,5 days under autonomous flight conditions and its return to the Earth into the defined area.

Cargo spacecraft (TCSC) "Progress"

TCSC "Progress" (fig.2) is intended for delivery of the useful cargo with the dry cargo mass of 1800 kg and 2080 kg of liquid and gaseous working bodies to near-earth orbit up to 450 km high, active (or passive, if necessary) docking to orbital objects and ensuring of controlled flood of worked off cargos in the defined area of water of world ocean.

Module-spacecraft "Docking module" (DM)

DM (fig.3) ) is intended to make possible the cosmonauts' "going out" to open space during the module is in orbital manned connections, to give an additional volume for work of the cosmonauts on the orbit (up to 13 m3), and also for delivery of dry cargos with mass up to 900 kg by putting into orbit. DM together with instruments and units module (IUM) compose a cargo module-spacecraft what is able to perform active automatic dockings to orbital objects. IUM can separate after docking and utilize autonomously. Meanwhile, the second docking unit in DM becomes free for receiving of cargo, manned spacecraft and modules. The required resource of DM on the orbit within the SOS is 5 years.

Modernized non-manned spacecraft (MNMSC) on basis of TPSC "Soyuz"

MNMSC (fig.4) ) is intended for delivery of the useful cargo with the dry cargo mass of 2100 kg to near-earth orbit up to 450 km high, carrying out of space experiments with duration of up to 180 days under autonomous flight conditions, passive docking to orbital objects for service of the cargo or return of the crew from the orbital object and return of about 230-800 kg of useful cargo (or the crew of 2-3 persons and 70 kg of useful cargo) to the Earth.

It is necessary to consider two modifications of MNMSC:

1. MNMSC-cargo - a version of cargo MNMSC, i.e. when the spacecraft is used for delivery and return of useful cargos only;
2. MNMSC-MR - a version of manned return when the delivery of useful cargo into the orbit and its service on the orbit is required and it is necessary to return a crew of appropriate visiting expedition to the Earth (after reequipping of the MNMSC launched).

It is necessary to consider a possibility of repeated use of apparatus launched for modification of MNMSC-cargo, which will allow to lower expenses for each mission.

So far as it will not be required for MNMSC to use an emergency rescue system on the carrier, it is necessary to foresee a possibility of use of the cargo module of TCSC "Progress" as a domestic module.

The required resource of MNMSC on the orbit (under autonomous flight conditions, within SOS) is 180 days.

Service & power module (SPM) on basis of DM

SPM (fig.5) is intended for delivery to the orbit of a part of service systems additionally equipping the orbital objects with the necessary board systems and power engineering which allows to extend sufficiently (for years) the terms of operating of orbital connections of SOS. As a prototype of SPM, it is necessary to consider DM and the corresponding cargo module-spacecraft.

SPM, analogously to DM, is delivered (is actively docked) to the board of SOS within the cargo module-spacecraft. The second docking unit in SPM becomes free after the separation of instruments and units module for receiving of cargo, manned spacecrafts and other modules. SPM must be equipped with additional solar batteries (SB) with automatic one-degree system of sun orientation with installed capacity of approx. 4 kW. The power supply system (PSS) of SPM must be designed not only for processing of mentioned own capacity, but also for receiving, processing and buffer ensuring of capacity generated by SB on board of laboratory module.

It is also possible to place power saving systems - gyrodines - in SPM and also highly informative means of connection with Earth (through retranslation satellite), multifunctional computer means.

The required resource of SPM on the orbit within SOS is 5 years.

Docking adapter (Dþ)

Docking adapter (Dþ) (fig.6) is intended for ensuring reconfiguration of orbital connection, creating of "developing" architecture of the station, for ensuring of emergency possibility for the cosmonauts " to go out" to open space while the module is in orbital manned connections, for giving an additional volume for work of the cosmonauts on the orbit (up to 11.5 m3), and also for delivery of dry cargos with mass up to 700 kg by putting into orbit. DA together with instruments and units module (IUM) compose a cargo module-spacecraft what is able to perform active automatic dockings to orbital objects. IUM can separate after docking and utilize autonomously. Meanwhile, the second docking unit in DA becomes free for receiving of cargo, manned spacecraft and modules. In contrast to DM, the docking adapter is equipped with the third side moorage designed for receiving of spacecrafts and modules (equipped with radio-technical and optical means). In certain cases, DA can be equipped with an automatic re-docking system (ARS) of modules. Besides, in contrast to DM, DA is designed for longer operation time, as several modules having their special purpose can change by one DA.

The required resource of DA on the orbit within the SOS is 5:10 years.

Laboratory module (LM)

LM (fig.7) ) is intended for creating a dwelling space of about 25-30 m3 on the orbit which allows together with volumes of TMSC, DM, TCSC and SPM to ensure the vital functions of 2-3 cosmonauts for the time of up to 35 days (the total volume for work of the crew in connections of SOS can reach 40-50 m3). It is also supposed to conduct various experiments on board of LM requiring hermetic volumes, video shutting with special interiors, observing the Earth and outer space with the use of wide windows, etc.

The LM is a "passive" orbital object, to which the other spacecrafts and modules of SOS are actively docked. Therefore, the engine unit of LM is required only for solving the problems of stabilization round mass center and (partially) for storing of fuel delivered by TCSC.

It is required to ensure the operating of the module and its docking to TCSC, TMSC or SPM at the stage of an autonomous flight of LM after its putting into orbit. The temporary placing of a part of service systems (as apparatuses for automatic approach and docking, board computer system, special command radio-line etc.) is possible on its board. These systems can be dismantled and utilized or returned to the Earth (e.g., with help of MNMSC) after arrival of SPM.

The required resource of LM on the orbit within the SOS is 5:10 years.

Laboratory module for CR "Aurora", "Soyuz-2" (LM-B)

LM-B (fig.17, fig.18, fig.19) is intended for creating a dwelling space of about 50 m3 on the orbit which allows together with volumes of TMSC, DM, TCSC and SPM to ensure the vital functions of 2-3 cosmonauts for the time of up to 45 days (the total volume for work of the crew in connections of SOS can reach 100 m3). It is also supposed to conduct various experiments on board of LM-B, analogously to LM, requiring hermetic volumes, video shutting with special interiors, observing the Earth and outer space with the use of wide windows, etc.