2023 Author: Bryan Walter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 22:24
The Russian module MLM Nauka, which was scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on July 15, was returned to the assembly and test building at the Baikonur cosmodrome to eliminate comments, a representative of Roscosmos told N + 1. An N + 1 source in the rocket and space industry reported that the module was returned because the specialists forgot to equip some of the external equipment with screen-vacuum thermal insulation, and because of this, the launch would be postponed for about a week.
The Science module is designed for scientific experiments. It will also include apparatus for generating oxygen and water, a toilet, a cabin for one astronaut, an 11-meter manipulator on the outside, and other tools. The Science module is known as one of the longest-running projects in the history of the ISS. Initially, it was built even before the station was founded as a backup for Zarya, the first module of the Russian segment and the entire ISS, and in 2004, on the basis of an 80% backup, it was decided to create a laboratory module.
It was planned to launch Nauka back in 2007, but the deadlines were dragged out many times for various reasons. One of them was found after the main stage of construction and testing: metal shavings were found in the fuel tanks, the removal of which is a non-trivial technical problem. You can read more about this in our material "Fatal shavings".
In the summer of 2020, the module was sent for final testing and assembly to Baikonur with the intention of launching it in April 2021. In April, it was again postponed to July. At the end of June, the module was removed under the rocket's nose fairing and sent to refueling, but on July 1 it became known that the fairing would have to be disassembled, because the experts forgot to close some of the equipment on the outside with a screen-vacuum thermal insulation. The Russian Space Web portal was the first to announce this on Twitter, and after a while the information was partially confirmed by Roskosmos itself. The state corporation refused to clarify the reason, stating only that the module was "returned to the RSC Energia assembly and test building to eliminate the comment."
MLM "Science" in the assembly and test building before assembling the head fairing
The N + 1 source said that since the head fairing around the module will now have to be disassembled, the launch will have to be postponed for at least a week. Probably because of this, preparatory operations to the ISS will also be postponed: on July 17, the Progress MS-16 cargo spacecraft is to undock the Pirs docking module from the Zvezda module and de-orbit it.
As the ISS is approaching the end of its useful life, space agencies and companies are developing new stations to replace it. Roscosmos plans to create its own ROSS station, and Axiom Space from 2024 will begin building its own private segment on the ISS, which will then disconnect and turn a separate station.
