Comments on: Rogozin: Russia mostly bowing out of Gateway

By: Dick Eagleson

Dick Eagleson — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:08:54 +0000

Excellent news! We should be pleased that there will be no “official Russians” anywhere near the Moon.

Mr. Rogozin’s announcement is simply a PR exercise for domestic consumption to make it look as though Russia’s non-participation in Artemis was a choice and not an inevitable consequence of Russia’s now-chronic penury. If China’s own Moon program is subsequently curtailed or cancelled due to that nation’s own deteriorating domestic circumstances, the Russians will have yet another excuse for non-presence on Luna.

Now the question becomes one of whether the Russians will manage to stick it out until ISS’s decommissioning before their manned spaceflight program folds for good, or whether that will occur earlier for reasons of insufficient funds. The answer is probably closely linked to the success – or lack of same – of the radical increase in tourist rides to ISS the Russians are planning to gin up. If that initiative fizzles, the Russians may well have to bow out of ISS well in advance of its retirement. Let’s just say I wouldn’t exactly be broken-hearted were that to occur.

Whichever proves true, one hopes at least some of Russia’s excellent cosmonauts and other quality Russian space program veterans find their way to the U.S. as private citizens to work for – or even found – U.S.-based NewSpace companies. We’ve already seen Momentus founded here by the refugee co-founder of Dauria Aerospace after that Russian start-up got big enough to attract the covetous gaze of one of Putin’s pet oligarchs. In Russia, the reward for successful entrepreneurship is expropriation, not a big-buck IPO.

I should also think SpaceX will soon have many open slots for people with previous practical spaceflight experience in support of future LEO, lunar and Mars projects.

By: LocalFluff

LocalFluff — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 05:45:21 +0000

@David
I think it is because Putin rules with corruption as constitution. It doesn’t affect design and development as much as production when the money starts rolling. Putin’s loyal kleptocrats are lousy at getting things done. Their new spaceport and Angara never seem to get ready. Another example is their new tank that seems very good, but manufactured in very low numbers. And so on. It’s not that they couldn’t afford these things, it’s a matter of corrupt organization.

Putin takes questions from the general public in a show once a year. He was asked if he would stop bureaucrats’ children inheriting their parent’s job. Putin answered half jokingly: “- No, because generals also have children.”

By: pzatchok

pzatchok — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 04:49:20 +0000

Russia ! The tip of the technology spear.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/retro-apple-computers-lenin-museum-russia

Granted this is only a museum display…. but seriously??

By: David

David — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 21:03:10 +0000

For the last decade or so, Russia has produced wonderful concepts, sometimes executed a design, and occasionally even produced a few “production” articles. They’ve run off a few examples of what seem to be amazing fighter planes and tanks, for example. And they have lots of paper plans for amazing rockets and expeditionary plans, even some test hardware. Angara looks like a slightly better Delta IV for example, and the Federation capsule might be on par with Orion. But then they never follow through with series production.

I’ve sometimes wondered if this is somewhat deliberate, and they’re just keeping their R&D pipeline busy and up to date without any actual intent of ever trying to follow through and produce this stuff. That would make more sense than that they keep coming up with plan after plan that they simply have no hope of funding. And if some miracle, or some disaster, happens and they either can or must actually spin up production, they have modern designs ready to go.