Soviet Space Battle Station Skif and Polyus Prototype

[Adux]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1286366/posts

 

[Adux]

I cant believe how people over here put China over Russia in military terms, The weapon systems and R&D done for underwater, land,air, space based weapon system are simply out of the world.

USSR and USA were leagues ahead of the other countries in the world. Will be for some time to come

 

[Adux]

 

[Adux]

This article gives a good overview of Energia's first cargo - the Polyus Starwars system launched in 1987:

The Polyus testbed contained means of defence against both ASAT weapons and beam weapons, though according to Kornilov's article these were only meant to conduct approach and docking tests. A cannon was mounted on Polyus to defend against ASAT weapons. An optical sighting system for the defensive cannon was included in addition to a sighting radar. By this means hostile ASAT weapons could be tracked without generating traceable signals. Experiments to check the efficiency of barium clouds in diffusing particle beams were also to have been conducted with Polyus.

A Polyus mock-up was delivered by the Krunichev Factory to Baikonur Cosmodrome in July, 1986, for tests of the Polyus/Energia interface. The spacecraft was about 37 meters in length, 4.1 meters in diameter and weighed about 80 metric tons. A question exists whether a mock-up of the Polyus test bed was constructed and if it still exists. There have been several schemes advanced by the Salyut Design Bureau and the Krunichev Factory for the commercial adaptation of Polyus and these may be intended to make use of this mock-up.

Polyus's failure to achieve working orbit was caused by a faulty inertial guidance sensor.

An article entitled "Unknown Polyus" by Yuri Kornilov, Chief Designer of the Salyut Design Bureau, has appeared in the journal "Earth and the Universe", and it provides details about the construction and testing of the first payload for the Energia rocket, the "Polyus" spacecraft. While Kornilov invites the reader to "read between the lines" and points out previous Soviet mis-statements about the Polyus, he is under a security ban which would lead to a 10 years in prison if he reveals (Soviet) "state" secrets. His article continues to claim that weapons systems tests were peaceful experiments.

On March 23, 1983, United States President Ronald Reagan set forth his vision of "Star Wars", a shield intended to defend the United States against nuclear attack from any place on Earth. The leader of the Soviet Union, Yuri Andropov, immediately accused the United States of seeking to militarily dominate the Soviet Union, and it appears he also authorised the design of counter-measures, including Polyus. Andropov sought to bring about a treaty banning military weapons from space until he fell ill in June, 1983.

The Soviet space program ran on a five year cycle and Kornilov complains that the Polyus spacecraft had less than the customary five years for development. It was decided that the Polyus would be the payload for the first launch of the Energia heavy lifter, then scheduled for the fall of 1986. Kornilov gives no reason for the rushed development.

Kornilov then goes on to declare that because of this rush Polyus was created by combining components from several current projects. The interface between Polyus and the Energia booster was adapted from the Buran Space Shuttle. The central module was adapted from a module for the Mir 2 Space Station. The replaceable and returnable space station to house cosmonauts was adapted from the upgrade of the existing TKS Transport Supply Spacecraft (Kosmos 929, 1267, 1443, 1668). Since the interface of the replaceable space station with the Proton launch vehicle was adapted to interface it with the central module, the rocket engines for orbital insertion had to be placed in the nose of the vehicle. This placement had catastrophic consequences for the Polyus spacecraft.

After Andropov's death in February, 1984 his successor Konstantin Chernenko continued to press for a treaty banning the militarisation of space. None the less, apparently following the successful test by the US Army of an anti-ballistic missile on June 12, 1984, and the rejection of a Soviet diplomatic initiative on July 1, construction of the Polyus began at the Krunichev Factory.

Design and construction of the platform was given the highest priority, and was under the personal supervision of Armaments Minister O D Baklanov (who later organised the coup against Michael Gorbachev) and Vice Minister O N Shishkin. These two met weekly with project leaders and issued immediate orders for the production of any needed components.

Chernenko's successor Michael Gorbachev denounced the militarisation of space on his first diplomatic trips abroad in December, 1984. Following Chernenko's death on March 12, 1985, and his becoming leader, Gorbachev proposed a freeze on the development of space weapons.

Statements made at that time by Gorbachev confirm the impression left by this article and another by General Designer V.V. Pallo of Design Bureau Salyut that the Polyus was indeed a test bed for the Soviet counter measure to the United States "Stars Wars" program, an Orbital Weapons Platform. Platforms of this type would have been capable of delivering nuclear warheads from orbit to any point in the US in six minutes. Gorbachev pointedly called all US SDI technology "space strike" weapons and repeatedly warned that the Soviet response to Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) would be "asymmetrical" and that SDI was "destabilising". It appears that the nuclear warhead launch control system for the Orbital Weapons Platforms was being developed in a very rushed manner and the instability of the Orbital Weapons Platforms scared the Soviet leadership.

According to Kornilov's article, shortly before Polyus' launch President Gorbachev visited the Baikonur Cosmodrome and expressly forbid the on-orbit testing of its capabilities. Kornilov claims that Gorbachev was worried that it would be possible for the west to view this activity as an attempt to create a weapon in space and that such an attempt would compromise the country's leaderships' statements on the USSR's peaceful intent.

Kornilov points out a laser reflector but gives no information on any scientific experiments using it. He also states that personnel on ships, aircraft and the ground were to take part in experiments with Polyus. It appears they were to attempt to target the platform by radar, infra-red and visible light, and when the platform was detected they were to fire at it with lasers. If the laser hit the platform, the mirror would reflect it back to Earth, and thus the platform's stealthiness could be tested without making radio transmissions. Earlier launch pad photos showed that the Polyus was covered by an optically black shroud and it is suspected that this may have been radar absorptive as well.

The Polyus test bed had containers filled with a combination of Xenon and Krypton gases, which would produce light when released in Earth orbit. Container launches would be visible to ground observers, and a warhead launch system could thereby be tested without the use of radio transmissions.

Because of acceleration stresses the original flight plan called for the Polyus platform to ride back-end first under and in the wake of the core stage of the Energia rocket as it passed through the Phase of Maximum Dynamic Stress after launch. Since the engines for orbital insertion would then be in the nose it would be necessary for Polyus to yaw 180 degrees and then roll 90 degrees before they could be fired and Polyus placed in its working orbit. When the platform was finally launched on 15 May, 1987, the Polyus performed a 180 degree yaw turn and then continued the turn through to 360 degrees. Polyus then rolled and fired its orbital insertion engines, which caused it to de-orbit into the South Pacific.

Polyus's failure to achieve working orbit was caused by a faulty inertial guidance sensor. In the rush of construction an already built sensor had been stripped from an existing Cosmos spacecraft and then been inadequately tested, as the Polyus mock-up had been shipped to Baikonur by the time the test equipment arrived at the Krunichev Factory. Those responsible for the failure were immediately fired or demoted.

No member of the Reagan or Bush administrations ever admitted or revealed publicly any knowledge of Polyus. The US Navy has made no statements about any attempts to investigate the wreckage of Polyus, which lies on the floor of the South Pacific.

http://k26.com/buran/Info/Polyus/polyus-energia.html

 

[Keysersoze]

I cant believe how people over here put China over Russia in military terms, The weapon systems and R&D done for underwater, land,air, space based weapon system are simply out of the world.

USSR and USA were leagues ahead of the other countries in the world. Will be for some time to come

Take a look at the highlighted portion.

This article gives a good overview of Energia's first cargo - the Polyus Starwars system launched in 1987:

as it passed through the Phase of Maximum Dynamic Stress after launch. Since the engines for orbital insertion would then be in the nose it would be necessary for Polyus to yaw 180 degrees and then roll 90 degrees before they could be fired and Polyus placed in its working orbit. When the platform was finally launched on 15 May, 1987, the Polyus performed a 180 degree yaw turn and then continued the turn through to 360 degrees. Polyus then rolled and fired its orbital insertion engines, which caused it to de-orbit into the South Pacific.

Polyus's failure to achieve working orbit was caused by a faulty inertial guidance sensor. In the rush of construction an already built sensor had been stripped from an existing Cosmos spacecraft and then been inadequately tested, as the Polyus mock-up had been shipped to Baikonur by the time the test equipment arrived at the Krunichev Factory. Those responsible for the failure were immediately fired or demoted.

No member of the Reagan or Bush administrations ever admitted or revealed publicly any knowledge of Polyus. The US Navy has made no statements about any attempts to investigate the wreckage of Polyus, which lies on the floor of the South Pacific.

http://k26.com/buran/Info/Polyus/polyus-energia.html

You are using a Failureto show superiority??????? The Russians spent VAST amounts of money desperately trying to keep up with The U.S. "star wars" program (which whilst providing great research funding for scientists, was ultimately a failure as well) It was the Russians desperate spending which ultimately brought down the Soviets. I am not suggesting that the Chinese have advanced more in the space race, but at the end of the day they are still here after the Soviets fell AND are prospering. They have lots of money and are catching up fast!

 

[Adux]

Failure from a sensor,they couldnt place it in the orbit. Keys, I thought you were far better than that. Soviets couldnt relaunch as the Union collappsed by then. My intention was never about the Failure or success, but just to show how far ahead both USA and USSR were. How long China have to go to catch up. They will, but for now...they are far off, that is my point.

Soviets never had the money, but saying Chinese surpassed them within moments of Attaining MONEY, is like slap on the face of the those scientist and soviet planners.

Chinese have a long way to go, and they still are far behind USA Russia or are you saying otherwise.

PS: The last 5 years the russian revival have been spectacular to say the least. You can see the Bear from the slumber already, Times are far gone of those Drunkard Yelstien Days. Putin is a power to reckon with

 

[Keysersoze]

Failure from a sensor,they couldnt place it in the orbit. Keys, I thought you were far better than that. Soviets couldnt relaunch as the Union collappsed by then. My intention was never about the Failure or success, but just to show how far ahead both USA and USSR were. How long China have to go to catch up. They will, but for now...they are far off, that is my point.

Soviets never had the money, but saying Chinese surpassed them within moments of Attaining MONEY, is like slap on the face of the those scientist and soviet planners.

Chinese have a long way to go, and they still are far behind USA Russia or are you saying otherwise.

PS: The last 5 years the russian revival have been spectacular to say the least. You can see the Bear from the slumber already, Times are far gone of those Drunkard Yelstien Days. Putin is a power to reckon with

Sorry but using failed programs as a sign of success (or advancement) is flawed thinking. The REASON the Soviet Union collapsed was because of huge spending on projects such as the one you mentioned.
You have forgotten the the hundreds of thousands of scientists who left after the collapse of the Soviet union. (500000-800000)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2055571.stm

After all why else would they ask for outside funding for their programs? Or allow millionaires free rides on their launch platforms.
Putin may rule with an Iron fist but it doesn't make him progressive..... Russia has almost 20 years of decay to reverse..

 

[Contrarian]

The extra money literally pouring in from defence exports and all time high oil prices is surely knocks a good many years off, Key.

 

[Keysersoze]

The extra money literally pouring in from defence exports and all time high oil prices is surely knocks a good many years off, Key.

Can you tell me where it is going? Something tells me it is being spent on keeping the armed forces together. That's what Hardliners tend to do......

 

[Contrarian]

If you have read the announcements from Russia. You would have seen that the money is being spent not on keeping the armed forces together, but on COMPLETELY modernizing their huge armed forces.

Gone are the days when Russian/Soviet generals defected or were rogue generals.

The money is not limited to just modernizing their armed forces. Russia achieved more industrial output than even in the peak of Soviet Union days, and this was a long time back.

 

[Adux]

Keys,

Pretty hard for you to see anyone advance other than Pakistan or China. I have been noticing that trend in you.

Its not a flawed analysis, by the sheer amount of R&D done We can talk about the Mir, Soviet Space Missions, Space Capablities, Missiles etc., its another matter they didnt have the money. Every Chinese Military Product has Russian roots. IF Russia has 20 years of decay, Very sorry to say China has more than 50yrs of its stupid Mao Policies to change.

Putin has brought more economic profit to Russia than anyone else in its hisory. He hasnt let West Dicatate, Had an independent policies, Guess Most Russian people are happy with that. How is putin a hardliner, cuz he tows the government line to the book, Last I checked he was elected and publicly announced that he would be stepping down after his second term according to the Russian Consititution and Ivanov would be the ideal person to take his position.

 

[Keysersoze]

If you have read the announcements from Russia. You would have seen that the money is being spent not on keeping the armed forces together, but on COMPLETELY modernizing their huge armed forces.

Gone are the days when Russian/Soviet generals defected or were rogue generals.

The money is not limited to just modernizing their armed forces. Russia achieved more industrial output than even in the peak of Soviet Union days, and this was a long time back.

Well in 2002 the Russians spent approx 1.6 Billion on R&D for the royal academy of sciences. That compares to 142 billion for the U.S.

Russia has a lot of catching up to do.

 

[Adux]

Well in 2002 the Russians spent approx 1.6 Billion on R&D for the royal academy of sciences. That compares to 142 billion for the U.S.

Russia has a lot of catching up to do.

That is a true fact.

 

[Keysersoze]

Keys,

Pretty hard for you to see anyone advance other than Pakistan or China. I have been noticing that trend in you.

Its not a flawed analysis, by the sheer amount of R&D done We can talk about the Mir, Soviet Space Missions, Space Capablities, Missiles etc., its another matter they didnt have the money. Every Chinese Military Product has Russian roots. IF Russia has 20 years of decay, Very sorry to say China has more than 50yrs of its stupid Mao Policies to change.

Putin has brought more economic profit to Russia than anyone else in its hisory. He hasnt let West Dicatate, Had an independent policies, Guess Most Russian people are happy with that. How is putin a hardliner, cuz he tows the government line to the book, Last I checked he was elected and publicly announced that he would be stepping down after his second term according to the Russian Consititution and Ivanov would be the ideal person to take his position.

Give me a break ......I am playing devils advocate here......It seems you can't get over the thinking that just because India has lots of Russian equipment therefore they (the Russians) must be all geniuses. China is seen as a growing power in the world that is a fact and is something you will have to come to terms with. Oh and another thing I have not been mentioning PAK unless people try to denigrate what they have done.

Oh and take a look at the Russian program. They have pretty much invented space tourism to keep their program afloat.


Moscow (AFP) Sept 26, 2002
Russia can no longer afford to meet its commitments to help build and supply the International Space Station (ISS), which means the project could be mothballed, Russian Space Agency spokesman Sergei Gorbunov told AFP on Thursday. "The situation (in the Russian space industry) is difficult" and "there are risks" that ISS operations may be suspended, he said.

Washington (AFP) Sept 26, 2002
Responding to reports that Russia would not be able to pay up its share of the International Space Station, Washington said Thursday it expects Moscow to "meet their commitments," an official said.

"NASA has not received any indication from Roskiakosmos (the Russian space agency) that Russia will not be able to meet its commitment under the International Space Station agreements," NASA said in a brief statement

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-02j.html

 

[Contrarian]

Every one accepts that China is a growing power and will the first country in the world in these times to challenge the US.

But China's weapons and space industry is far behind Russia now. Far far behind. It will take China many more decades to come up their standard.