Opening screensaver of the series "Space": a schematic representation of the spread of mankind in the solar system

I prepared a short article for the Popular Mechanics magazine - a forecast for the development of astronautics. The material "5 Scenarios for the Future" (No. 4, 2016) included only a small part of the article - just one paragraph :) I am publishing the full version!

Part One: Near Future - 2020-2030

At the start of the new decade, humans will return to lunar space as part of NASA's Flexible Path program. The new American super-heavy Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the first launch of which is scheduled for 2018, will help with this. The payload is 70 tons at the first stage, up to 130 tons at the next ones. Let me remind you that the Russian Proton has a payload of only 22 tons, the new Angara-A5 has about 24 tons. The state-owned Orion spacecraft is also being built in the United States.

SLS
Source: NASA

American private traders will ensure the delivery of astronauts and cargo to the ISS. Initially, two ships - Dragon V2 and CST-100, then others will catch up (possibly winged - for example, Dream Chaser, not only in cargo, but also in passenger version).

The ISS will be operated at least until 2024 (possibly longer, especially the Russian segment).

Then NASA will announce a competition for a new near-Earth base, in which Bigelow Aerospace will probably win with a project for a station with inflatable modules.

By the end of the 2020s, it is possible to predict the presence in orbit of several private manned orbital stations for various purposes (from tourism to the orbital assembly of satellites).

With the use of a heavy rocket (with a carrying capacity of a little more than 50 tons, sometimes classified as super-heavy) Falcon Heavy and Dragon V2, made by Elon Musk, tourist flights to orbit around the Moon are quite likely - not just a flyby, but namely work in a lunar orbit - closer to the mid 2020s.

Also, closer to the mid-late 2020s, a competition from NASA is likely to create a lunar transport infrastructure (private expeditions and a private lunar base). According to recent estimates, private traders will need about $ 10 billion in government funding to return to the moon in the foreseeable (less than 10 years) time.

Model of the lunar base of the private company Bigelow Aerospace
Source: Bigelow Aerospace

Thus, the "Flexible Path" leads NASA to Mars (an expedition to Phobos - in the early 30s, to the surface of Mars - only in the 40s, if there is no powerful accelerating impulse from society), and low Earth orbit and even the Moon will be given private business.

In addition, new telescopes will be put into operation, which will make it possible not only to find tens of thousands of exoplanets, but also to measure the spectra of the atmospheres of the nearest of them by direct observation. I would venture to suggest that before the year 30, evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life will be obtained (oxygen atmosphere, IR signatures of vegetation, etc.), and the question of the Great Filter and the Fermi paradox will again arise.

There will be new flights of probes to asteroids, gas giants (to Jupiter's moon Europa, to Saturn's moons Titan and Enceladus, as well as to Uranus or Neptune), the first private interplanetary probes will appear (Moon, Venus, possibly Mars with asteroids).

Talk about resource extraction on astroids until the 30th year will remain talk. Unless private traders will conduct small technological experiments together with state agencies.

Tourist suborbital systems will begin to fly massively - hundreds of people will visit the edge of space.

China will build its multi-module orbital station in the early 1920s, and by the middle to the end of the decade, it will carry out a manned flight around the moon. It will also launch many interplanetary probes (for example, the Chinese rover), but will not come out on top in astronautics. Although it will be on the third or fourth - right behind the United States and large private traders.

Russia, at best, will preserve the "pragmatic space" - communications, navigation, remote sensing of the Earth, as well as the Soviet legacy in manned space exploration. Cosmonauts on Soyuz will fly to the Russian segment of the ISS, and after the US withdraws from the project, the Russian segment will probably form a separate station - much smaller than the Soviet Mir and even smaller than the Chinese station. But this is enough to save the industry. Even in terms of launch vehicles, Russia will fall back to 3-4 place. But this will be enough to carry out tasks of national economic importance. In a bad scenario, after the completion of the operation of the ISS, the manned direction in astronautics in Russia will be completely closed, and in the most optimistic scenario, a lunar program will be announced with real (and not in the mid-2030s) deadlines and clear control, which will allow as early as mid-2020- x to land on the moon. But such a scenario, alas, is unlikely.

New countries will join the club of space powers, including several countries with manned programs - India, Iran, even North Korea. And this is not to mention private firms: by the end of the decade there will be many manned orbital private vehicles - but hardly more than a dozen.

Many small firms will create their own ultralight and light rockets. Moreover, some of them will gradually increase the payload - and go into the middle and even heavy classes.

Fundamentally new launch vehicles will not appear, people will fly on rockets, but the reusability of the first stages or the rescue of engines will become the norm. Probably, experiments will be carried out with aerospace reusable systems, new fuels, structures. It is possible that by the end of the 20s a single-stage reusable carrier will be built and will begin to fly.

Part Two: Mankind's Transformation into a Space Civilization - From 2030 to the End of the 21st Century

There are many bases on the Moon, both public and private. The natural satellite of the Earth is used as a resource base (energy, ice, various components of regolith), an experimental and scientific testing ground where space technologies for long-distance flights are tested, infrared telescopes are placed in shaded craters, and radio telescopes are located on the reverse side.

The moon is included in the earth's economy - the energy of lunar power plants (fields of solar panels and solar concentrators built from local resources) is transmitted both to space tugs in near-Earth space and to Earth. The problem of delivery of matter from the surface of the Moon to low Earth orbit (braking in the atmosphere and capture) has been solved. Lunar hydrogen and oxygen are used in lunar and near-Earth gas stations. Of course, all these are only the first experiments, but private firms are already making fortunes on them. Helium-3 has so far been mined only in small quantities for experiments related to fusion rocket engines.

On Mars - a scientific station-colony. A joint project of "private traders" (mainly Elon Musk) and states (mainly the United States). People have the opportunity to return to Earth, but many fly away to the new world forever. The first experiments on the possible terraforming of the planet. On Phobos - a transshipment base for heavy interplanetary spacecraft.

martian base
Source: Bryan Versteeg

Throughout the solar system, there are many probes, the purpose of which is to prepare for development, to search for resources. Flights of high-speed devices with nuclear power propulsion systems into the Kuiper belt to the recently discovered gas giant - the ninth planet. Rovers on Mercury, balloon, floating, flying probes on Venus, the study of satellites of giant planets (for example, submarines in the seas of Titan).

Distributed networks of space telescopes make it possible to capture exoplanets by direct observation and even map (very low resolution) planets around nearby stars. Large automatic observatories have been sent into the focus of the Sun's gravitational lens.

Single-stage reusable launch vehicles have been deployed and are operating, non-rocket methods of delivering cargo are actively used on the Moon - mechanical and electromagnetic catapults.

There are many tourist space stations flying. There are several stations - scientific institutes with artificial gravity (torus station).

Heavy manned interplanetary spacecraft not only reached Mars and ensured the deployment of a colony base on the Red Planet, but are also actively exploring the asteroid belt. Many expeditions have been sent to near-Earth asteroids, an expedition to the orbit of Venus has been carried out. Preparations have begun for the deployment of research bases around the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn. Perhaps the giant planets will be the target of the first test flight of an interplanetary vehicle with a thermonuclear engine with magnetic plasma confinement.

Launching a weather balloon on Titan

Juno. The Juno interplanetary station was launched in 2011 and is due to orbit Jupiter in 2016. It will describe a long loop around the gas giant, collecting data on the composition of the atmosphere and the magnetic field, as well as building a wind map. Juno is the first NASA spacecraft not using a plutonium core, but equipped with solar panels.

Mars 2020. The next rover sent to the red planet will in many ways be a copy of the well-proven Curiosity. But its task will be different - namely, the search for any traces of life on Mars. The program will start at the end of 2020.

NASA plans to launch a space atomic clock for navigation in deep space in 2016. This device, in theory, should work as a GPS for the spacecraft of the future. The space clock promises to be 50 times more accurate than any clock on Earth.

InSight. One of the important questions related to Mars is whether there is geological activity on it or not? The InSight mission, planned for 2016, should answer this with a rover with a drill and a seismometer.

Uranus orbiter. Mankind has only visited Uranus and Neptune once, during the Voyager 2 mission in 1980, but this is supposed to be corrected in the next decade. The Uranus orbiter program is conceived as an analogue of Cassini's flight to Jupiter. The problems are funding and a shortage of plutonium for fuel. However, the launch is planned for 2020 with the arrival of the device to Uranus in 2030.

Europa Clipper. Thanks to the Voyager mission in 1979, we learned that under the ice of one of Jupiter's moons - Europa - there is a huge ocean. And where there is so much liquid water, life is possible. The Europa Clipper will take off in 2025, equipped with a powerful radar capable of seeing deep under Europa's ice.

OSIRIS-REx. Asteroid (101955) Bennu is not the most famous space object. But according to astronomers from the University of Arizona, it has a very real chance of crashing into Earth around the year 2200. The OSIRIS-REx will travel to Benn in 2019 to collect soil samples and return in 2023. Studying the findings could help prevent a future disaster.

LISA is a joint experiment between NASA and the European Space Agency to study the gravitational waves emitted by black holes and pulsars. The measurements will be carried out by three devices located at the tops of a triangle 5 million km long. LISA Pathfinder, the first of three satellites, will be sent into orbit in November 2015, with a full program launch scheduled for 2034.

Bepi Colombo. This program got its name in honor of the 20th century Italian mathematician Giuseppe Colombo, who developed the theory of gravity maneuver. BepiColombo is a project of space agencies in Europe and Japan that will start in 2017 with an estimated arrival of the device into Mercury orbit in 2024.

The James Webb Space Telescope will be launched into orbit in 2018 as a replacement for the famous Hubble. The size of a tennis court and the size of a four-story house, worth almost $9 billion, this telescope is considered the main hope of modern astronomy.

Basically, missions are planned in three directions - a flight to Mars in 2020, a flight to Jupiter's moon Europa and, possibly, to the orbit of Uranus. But the list is not limited to them. Let's take a look at ten space programs in the near future.

Mankind has been exploring outer space with manned spacecraft for more than half a century. Alas, during this time, figuratively speaking, it did not sail far. If we compare the universe to the ocean, we are just walking along the edge of the surf, ankle-deep in water. Once, however, we decided to swim a little deeper (the Apollo lunar program), and since then we have been living in memories of this event as the highest achievement.

So far, spacecraft have mostly served as delivery vehicles to and from Earth. The maximum duration of an autonomous flight, achievable by the reusable Space Shuttle, is only 30 days, and even then theoretically. But, perhaps, the spaceships of the future will become much more perfect and versatile?

Already the Apollo lunar expeditions have clearly shown that the requirements for future spacecraft can be strikingly different from the tasks for "space taxis". The Apollo lunar cabin had very little in common with streamlined ships and was not designed to fly in a planetary atmosphere. Some idea of ​​how the spaceships of the future will look like, photos of American astronauts give more than clearly.

The most serious factor that hinders episodic human exploration of the solar system, not to mention the organization of scientific bases on the planets and their satellites, is radiation. Problems arise even with lunar missions lasting a week at most. And the one and a half year flight to Mars, which seemed to be about to take place, is being pushed further and further. Automated research has shown that it is deadly for humans along the entire route of an interplanetary flight. So the spacecraft of the future will inevitably acquire serious anti-radiation protection in combination with special biomedical measures for the crew.

It is clear that the sooner he gets to his destination, the better. But for a fast flight you need powerful engines. And for them, in turn, a highly efficient fuel that would not take up much space. Therefore, chemical propulsion engines will give way to nuclear ones in the near future. If, however, scientists succeed in taming antimatter, i.e., converting mass into light radiation, the spaceships of the future will acquire. In this case, we will talk about achieving relativistic speeds and interstellar expeditions.

Another serious obstacle to the development of the Universe by man will be the long-term maintenance of his life. In just a day, the human body consumes a lot of oxygen, water and food, emits solid and liquid waste, exhales carbon dioxide. It is pointless to take a full supply of oxygen and food with you on board because of their huge weight. The problem is solved by an onboard closed one. However, so far all experiments on this topic have not been successful. And without a closed LSS, spaceships of the future flying through space for years are unthinkable; pictures of artists, of course, amaze the imagination, but do not reflect the real state of affairs.

So, all projects of spaceships and starships are still far from real implementation. And humanity will have to come to terms with the study of the Universe by astronauts under cover and receiving information from automatic probes. But this, of course, is temporary. Astronautics does not stand still, and indirect signs show that a big breakthrough is brewing in this area of ​​human activity. So, perhaps, the spaceships of the future will be built and make their first flights in the 21st century.

Once again, Hollywood pushed humanity to space exploration: after the film "The Martian" was shown, probably every second gardener wanted to grow his own potatoes on the surface of the Red Planet. And after Interstellar, many schoolchildren and students became eager toengage in the exploration of boundless space for the benefit of mankind. Well, such dreams are getting closer to reality!

Space exploration starts on Mars

You can endlessly criticize the governments of countries for the fact that we still have not been fully engaged in space exploration, and have not moved to Mars, because if there were no wars and confrontations dividing peoples and scientists, humanity would have gone far ahead, but this is a controversial judgment .

Space exploration began and developed due to the rivalry between the USSR and the USA over the years. Now that the Cold War is over, the need for such projects as, say, relocation to Mars is being called into question. In search of funding for their projects, scientists must go through bureaucratic hell, conduct a lot of research and calculations, and most importantly, present to the sponsor (be it a state, corporation or individual) the commercial or defense prospects of their project.

Space exploration is the concern of the commonwealth of countries

Nevertheless, space exploration does not stand still, but rather attracts new participants to its endless expanses of opportunities and discoveries. In addition to veterans of this field, such as the USSR, the USA, China and the European Union, India, Japan, Spain and the famous private company Elon Musk - SpaceX are currently launching.

The main stages of future space projects for space exploration

Roscosmos is looking for life on Mars

Let's talk about the plans of the largest participants, the first of which will be Roskosmos. The object of undying interest of researchers is the Red Planet. Despite the landing failure of the Schiaparelli lander ( Schiaparelli) October 19, 2016, the ExoMars project continues to function. Its main task remains the search for life on Mars. The second phase of the program is planned to be implemented in 2020. During the six-month journey of the rover, equipped with a unique drilling rig, it is planned to take rock samples at a depth of up to 2 meters.

Europe conducts space exploration jointly with Russia

The ExoMars program, as well as the equipment of the rover, is international. As René Pichel, head of the European Space Agency in Russia, noted, joint work is a necessary condition for successful missions. Until 2020, it is planned to deliver the Spektr-RG space observatory, consisting of 2 telescopes of Russian and German production, into the Earth's orbit.

Roscosmos, having ordered the relevant research, once again revived the idea of ​​​​landing a man on the moon by 2030, however, as company representative Igor Burenkov noted, while maintaining such low funding, this project will not be implemented. In total, more than 12 launch vehicles are planned to be launched in 2017.

The second major participant in the joint exploration of space is NASA. Naturally, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration could not stay away from the study of the Red Planet. Just like Roscosmos, NASA plans to launch its own rover in 2020. It should be noted right away that the advantage of his programs lies in the competitive selection of instruments for missions, and competition, as we know from the course of economics, contributes to raising quality.

NASA plans to launch its telescope, called TESS, this year, 2017. Its main task will be the discovery of previously unknown exoplanets. A special place in the plans of the Office is occupied by the study of Europa, a satellite of Jupiter. At this object, covered with ice, scientists plan to find signs of life.

In the future, flexible robots will fly to the planets

The difficulty is the development of a special apparatus capable of deep and long immersion in an unfavorable environment. At the moment, in the long-term plans for the future there is a project to develop a special flexible robot, resembling an eel in shape, which will receive energy for its work from magnetic fields. A plan for using the robot for its intended purpose has not yet been developed, because it still needs to prove its suitability on Earth.

Long March 2F rocket (Chang Zheng 2F) from the Shenzhou-8 manned spacecraft at the launch pad of the Jiuquan Cosmodrome. Center.DLR / wikimedia.org (CC BY 3.0 DE)

China - hidden space dragon

China does not intend to stop at such significant successes in the economy, now its goal is space. China's space program, which started back in 1956, can't boast of significant success, but it certainly has ambitions. Since 2011, the program for launching the first Chinese multi-module space station Tiangong-3 into orbit has been systematically carried out.

At the moment, the Tiangong-1 base module and the Tiangong-2 space laboratory have been launched, the main task of which is to conduct tests and prepare the output of the Tiangong-3 modules. Whether the Chinese space project will be able to compare with the Mir station and the ISS (where China, by the way, is not represented due to US opposition) will be known in 2022.

Japan will produce solar energy in space

Japan, despite the failure of the mission to clean the Earth's orbit from space debris in December 2016 and the fall of the smallest launch vehicle in January 2017, plans to implement one of the largest and most significant programs - the creation of an orbiting satellite by 2030. Thanks to photocells that convert photons into electricity, it will be able to collect and send solar energy to Earth.

According to the ideas of the futurists, it should have a large number of solar panels. Naturally, while maintaining a significant amount of orbital debris, the implementation of this project will face a number of problems related to the strength and durability of the structure.

Mask's ships always return

A new, but already declared, participant in space exploration is SpaceX, led by billionaire Elon Musk. The first three launches of the Falcon-1 rocket could put an end to the history of the company, but already in 2015 it received a contract to supply the necessary supplies to the ISS, for which it developed the Dragon spacecraft capable of returning to Earth.

floating spaceport

SpaceX also successfully implemented a project to land the first stage of a launch vehicle on a floating platform. This should reduce the cost of space launches. The company is also actively developing space tourism, the money from which goes to further development. Of particular interest is the development of an interplanetary transport system that will allow in the future to transport people and cargo to Mars.

From inflating space ambitions to working together for everyone

At the moment, there are no ambitious programs to create a "Death Star" or "terraforming" (the formation of conditions suitable for human habitation) the surface of nearby planets, but space exploration is moving at its own pace. One cannot but rejoice at the fact that private companies are included in the process, capable of dispersing blood through the veins of the old space guard, and the development of private excursion flights, which can open the way for additional financial flows into the field of research of the boundless "Black Sea".

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In 2011, the United States ceased operation of the Space Transportation System complex with the reusable Space Shuttle, as a result of which the Russian ships of the Soyuz family became the only means of delivering astronauts to the International Space Station. Over the next few years, this situation will continue, and after that, new ships are expected to appear that can compete with the Soyuz. New developments in the field of manned cosmonautics are being created both in our country and abroad.

The Russian Federation"

Over the past decades, the Russian space industry has made several attempts to create a promising manned spacecraft suitable for replacing the Soyuz. However, these projects have not yet produced the expected results. The newest and most promising attempt to replace the Soyuz is the Federation project, which proposes the construction of a reusable system in manned and cargo versions.

Models of the ship "Federation". Photo by Wikimedia Commons

In 2009, the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation received an order for the design of a spacecraft, designated as the "Promising Manned Transport System". The name "Federation" appeared only a few years later. Until recently, RSC Energia was engaged in the development of the required documentation. The construction of the first ship of the new type began in March last year. Soon, the finished sample will begin testing on benches and test sites.

In accordance with the latest announced plans, the first space flight of the Federation will take place in 2022, and the ship will send cargo into orbit. The first crewed flight is scheduled for 2024. After carrying out the required checks, the ship will be able to perform more daring missions. So, in the second half of the next decade, unmanned and manned flybys of the Moon may take place.

The ship, consisting of a reusable returnable cargo-passenger cabin and a disposable aggregate-engine compartment, will be able to have a mass of up to 17-19 tons. Depending on the goals and payload, it will be able to take on board up to six astronauts or 2 tons of cargo. When returning, the descent vehicle can contain up to 500 kg of cargo. It is known about the study of several versions of the ship to solve different problems. With the appropriate configuration, the Federation will be able to send people or cargo to the ISS, or operate independently in orbit. The ship is also expected to be used in future flights to the Moon.

The American space industry, which was left without the Shuttles a few years ago, has high hopes for the promising Orion project, which is a development of the ideas of the closed Constellation program. Several leading organizations, both American and foreign, are involved in the development of this project. So, the European Space Agency is responsible for the creation of the aggregate compartment, and Airbus will build such products. American science and industry are represented by NASA and Lockheed Martin.

Model of the ship Orion. Photo by NASA

Project Orion in its current form was launched in 2011. By this time, NASA managed to complete part of the work on the Constellation program, but it had to be abandoned. Certain developments were transferred from this project to the new one. Already on December 5, 2014, American specialists managed to conduct the first test launch of a promising ship in an unmanned configuration. No new launches have been made yet. In accordance with the established plans, the authors of the project must complete the necessary work, and only after that it will be possible to begin a new stage of testing.

According to current plans, a new flight of the Orion spacecraft in the space truck configuration will take place only in 2019, after the appearance of the Space Launch System launch vehicle. The unmanned version of the ship will have to work with the ISS, as well as fly around the moon. Astronauts will be on board the Orions from 2023. Long-duration manned flights are planned for the second half of the next decade, including those with a flyby of the Moon. In the future, the possibility of using the Orion system in the Martian program is not ruled out.

A ship with a maximum launch weight of 25.85 tons will receive a sealed compartment with a volume of slightly less than 9 cubic meters, which will allow it to carry large enough cargo or people. It will be possible to deliver up to six people to the Earth's orbit. The "lunar" crew will be limited to four astronauts. The cargo modification of the ship will lift up to 2-2.5 tons with the possibility of safe return of a smaller mass.

CST-100 Starliner

As an alternative for the Orion, the CST-100 Starliner, developed by Boeing under the NASA Commercial Crew Transportation Capability program, can be considered. The project provides for the creation of a manned spacecraft capable of delivering several people into orbit and returning to earth. Due to a number of design features, including those associated with the one-time use of equipment, it is planned to equip the ship with seven seats for astronauts at once.

CST-100 in orbit, so far only in the mind of the artist. NASA drawing

The Starliner has been created since 2010 by Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace. The design took several years, and in the middle of the current decade it was supposed to carry out the first launch of a new ship. However, due to some difficulties, the test launch was postponed several times. According to a recent NASA decision, the first launch of the CST-100 spacecraft with cargo on board should take place in August this year. In addition, Boeing received permission to carry out a manned flight in November. Apparently, the promising ship will be ready for testing in the very near future, and new schedule changes will no longer be needed.

The Starliner differs from other projects of promising manned spacecraft of American and foreign development by more modest goals. As planned by the creators, this ship will have to deliver people to the ISS or other promising stations currently being developed. Flights outside the earth's orbit are not planned. All this reduces the requirements for the ship and, as a result, makes it possible to achieve significant savings. The lower cost of the project and the reduced cost of transporting astronauts can be a good competitive advantage.

A characteristic feature of the CST-100 ship is its rather large size. The habitable capsule will have a diameter of just over 4.5 m, and the total length of the ship will exceed 5 m. The total mass is 13 tons. It should be noted that large dimensions will be used to obtain maximum internal volume. To accommodate equipment and people, a sealed compartment with a volume of 11 cubic meters has been developed. It will be possible to install seven chairs for astronauts. In this regard, the Starliner ship - if it manages to reach operation - can become one of the leaders.

Dragon V2

A few days ago, NASA also determined the timing of new spacecraft test flights from SpaceX. So, the first test launch of a Dragon V2 manned spacecraft is scheduled for December 2018. This product is a redesigned version of the Dragon “truck” already in use, capable of transporting people. The development of the project began a long time ago, but only now it is approaching testing.

Dragon V2 ship layout dj presentation time. Photo by NASA

The Dragon V2 project involves the use of a redesigned cargo compartment adapted to transport people. Depending on the requirements of the customer, as stated, such a ship will be able to lift up to seven people into orbit. Like its predecessor, the new "Dragon" will be reusable, and will be able to make new flights after minor repairs. The development of the project has been underway for the past few years, but the tests have not yet begun. It won't be until August 2018 that SpaceX will launch the Dragon V2 into space for the first time; this flight will take place without astronauts on board. A full-fledged manned flight, in accordance with NASA guidelines, is scheduled for December.

SpaceX is known for its bold plans for any future project, and the manned spacecraft is no exception. At first, Dragon V2 is supposed to be used only to send people to the ISS. It is also possible to use such a ship in independent orbital missions lasting up to several days. In the distant future, it is planned to send a ship to the moon. Moreover, with its help, they want to organize a new "route" of space tourism: vehicles with passengers on a commercial basis will fly around the moon. However, all this is still a matter of the distant future, and the ship itself has not even had time to pass all the necessary tests.

With a medium size, the Dragon V2 has a 10 cubic meter pressurized compartment and a 14 cubic meter non-pressurized compartment. According to the developer company, it will be able to deliver a little more than 3.3 tons of cargo to the ISS and return 2.5 tons to Earth. In a manned configuration, it is proposed to install seven chairs in the cabin. Thus, the new "Dragon" will be able, at least, not to be inferior to competitors in terms of carrying capacity. Economic benefits are proposed to be obtained through reusable use.

India spaceship

Together with the leading countries in the space industry, other states are also trying to create their own versions of manned spacecraft. So, in the near future, the first flight of a promising Indian ship with astronauts on board may take place. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been working on its own ship project since 2006, and has already completed part of the required work. For some reason, this project has not yet received a full designation and is still known as the "ISRO spacecraft".

A promising Indian ship and its carrier. Figure Timesofindia.indiatimes.com

According to known data, the new ISRO project provides for the construction of a relatively simple, compact and light manned vehicle, similar to the first ships of foreign countries. In particular, there is a certain similarity with the American equipment of the Mercury family. Part of the design work was completed a few years ago, and on December 18, 2014, the first launch of the ship with ballast cargo took place. When the new ship will deliver the first astronauts into orbit is unknown. The timing of this event was shifted several times, and so far there is no data on this matter.

The ISRO project proposes the construction of a capsule weighing no more than 3.7 tons with an internal volume of several cubic meters. With its help, it is planned to deliver three astronauts into orbit. Declared autonomy at the level of the week. The first missions of the ship will be related to being in orbit, maneuvering, etc. In the future, Indian scientists are planning pair launches with a meeting and docking of ships. However, this is still a long way off.

After the development of flights to near-Earth orbit, the Indian Space Research Organization intends to create several new projects. The plans include the creation of a reusable spacecraft of a new generation, as well as manned flights to the Moon, which are likely to be carried out in cooperation with foreign colleagues.

Projects and prospects

Promising manned spacecraft are now being created in several countries. At the same time, we are talking about different prerequisites for the emergence of new ships. So, India intends to develop its first own project, Russia is going to replace the existing Soyuz, and the United States needs domestic ships with the ability to transport people. In the latter case, the problem manifests itself so clearly that NASA is forced to develop or support several advanced space technology projects at once.

Despite different prerequisites for creation, promising projects almost always have similar goals. All space powers are going to put into operation their own new manned spacecraft, suitable at least for orbital flights. At the same time, most of the current projects are created with the achievement of new goals in mind. After certain modifications, some of the new ships will have to go beyond the orbit and go, at least to the moon.

It is curious that most of the first launches of new technology are scheduled for the same period. From the end of the current decade to the mid-twenties, several countries at once intend to test their latest developments in practice. If the desired results are obtained, the space industry will change markedly by the end of the next decade. In addition, thanks to the foresight of the developers of new technology, astronautics will have the opportunity not only to work in Earth orbit, but also to fly to the Moon or even prepare for more daring missions.

Promising projects of manned spacecraft created in different countries have not yet reached the stage of full-fledged tests and flights with a crew on board. Nevertheless, several such launches will take place this year, and such flights will continue in the future. The development of the space industry continues and gives the desired results.

According to the websites:
http://tass.ru/
http://ria.ru/
https://energia.ru/
http://space.com/
https://roscosmos.ru/
https://nasa.gov/
http://boeing.com/
http://spacex.com/
http://hindustantimes.com/