Space has no limits

Doctor of Engineering Science, Professor Vladimir Zernov, Rector of the Russian New University, greeted the participants.

In his welcoming speech he said: “Nowadays people wonder how Russia emerged a winner of the space race in the50-60^th despite drastic consequences of the Great Patriotic War. To my opinion, the Soviet education system is one of the reasons for this colossal success and, of course, the work of Sergey Korolev’s brilliant team. I am sure if Sergey Korolev could have lived 7-8 years longer, the USA would have had no lead in the space exploration of the Moon. Now we witness a new phase of active space exploration. I am very glad that this conference gives us an opportunity to discuss most urgent issues of the modern astronautics. I hope we’ll make a good start.”

Colonel of the Russian Air Force Maxim Suraev, a cosmonaut awarded a decoration of the Russian Federation Hero, said:”With the Space Shuttle Program shut down, Russia remains the only country that is capable of carrying crews and equipment to the International Space Station.

The International Space Station project proved that it is difficult for any country to maintain the manned space exploration. Such projects should be international. If we take the Moon, I am sure that a country could not finance a program alone. The only exception is China, which develops its Space program independently. We can get no information about their program development, but we know that China has done well in the field. Half a year ago I visited China and witnessed their progress: manned space flights, extravehicular activity. I am sure they will achieve more success. This year China is planning to launch the first space station of its own.

We in Russia do not have a systematic approach to the development of space exploration programs. Today we rest upon the achievements of the Soviet Era. Creating a space apparatus is a complicated business that can take some 15 years. However, at the moment there are no plans of developing a new space apparatus in Russia. We have only such space ships that were developed in the times of the Soviet Union. As far as the current scientific research carried on board the space station, I don’t think it is anything of great scientific value. I would rather say it is kind of amateurish”.

Doctor of Psychics and Mathematics, Professor Alexander Platonov, head of a division of the M.V. Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, a winner of the USSR State Prize and the Lenin Peace Prize, an honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, started his report about “ A Moon Unmanned Base” with a warm welcoming speech.

"I’m glad I have an opportunity to speak at RosNOU. This University embraces two spheres: humanitarian and that of natural sciences. The Moon is a strategically critical object. I think in future we could have various conflicts here on the Earth because of it”.

The question “Who will be the first to construct a lunar base: Russia, China or India?" remains open. If the Russian Federation does not learn how to develop and implement long-term grand projects within a reasonable period of time, we would lose this race in Space. We should take as an example the USA. It scored big successes with an atomic bomb and the “Appollo” mission projects. On the other hand, such projects need consolidated efforts of many countries.

Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor Mikhail Ovchinnikov, head of the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, said: “Humanitarian scientists are necessary to get the ideas of the technologists over to the public”. He presented a report “Dynamics and Flight Control Problems of Long-term Projects and Missions for Small-size Satellites”. He added:”The public needs convincing explanations why space research is of such great importance for the international community.

During the 60-70th, every breakthrough in the exploration of space caused furor and everyone understood very well that space research is essential. Due to its findings everybody could gain an advantage. Today people do not even wonder how their cell phones work, how we know weather forecasts for tomorrow. But, indeed, we need a great number of satellites to get this information. People do not apprehend the importance of space research, they are anxious mostly about the quality of roads. Humanitarian scientists should transmit this idea to the public. The Russian government is going to invest billions of roubles in Skolkovo, but if there is no scientific feedback, no public attention to what is going on in Skolkovo and why this or that is done in the scientific centre, there will be no findings and no results. The investment would be wasted”.

Candidate of Physical and Mathematical sciences Denis Tuchin, a senior researcher of the M.V. Keldysh RAN Institute, spoke about a space vehicle autonomous navigation system, based on the satellite signal transmission. He also explained the differences between GLONASS and GPS systems. Candidate of Physical and Mathematical sciences Andrey Baranov, a senior researcher of the M.V. Keldysh RAN Institute, submitted a report about “Optimal Maneuvering on the Low-Earth Orbit”. He said:”Incredible things may happen in space. It really has no limits”.

Candidate of Physical and Mathematical sciences and the author of a report “Flights to the Asteroids and Protection Against Them” Georgy Efimov, a senior researcher of the M.V. Keldysh Institute, said:”It is very difficult to monitor the behavior of an asteroid. If we do not do research on asteroids, the consequences of a possible calamity could be absolutely unpredictable, we would be unable to forecast possible damage. Asteroids keep falling, but each time the impact is different: somewhere it can simply breach the roof of a shed. Not so long ago a fragment of an asteroid dropped down during a wedding ceremony and ruined the occasion. However, there will be something to remember during the 25-wedding anniversary. Some asteroids can cause disastrous effects like the Tunguska Meteor that fell about 2100 square km of the taiga forest. Thousands of expeditions worked there but nobody knows exactly what had happened. Nowadays with the appearance of a wide range of factories producing, for instance, toxic chemicals, such calamity damage could be even more devastating.

The event ended with round-table talks. The participants spoke about “Modern Problems of Manned Space Flights” and “Public Opinion about Space Research and Manned Space Flights”.

The Russian New University arranged broadcasting of this event live.