Russia, the United States, Europe, Japan and Canada intend to start building a lunar orbital station in 2023, which can later be used as the first interplanetary spacecraft. What design ideas still have to be implemented by specialists so that in 2028 the first modules of the station could go to the Earth's satellite.
Space agencies are actively discussing the project of the station in the orbit of the moon. In five years, the specialists intend to start developing modules where the cosmonauts will live and work.
Anatoly Zak, the owner of the Russia SpaceWeb portal, said that the first stage of construction of the station's functional parts could begin in 2017-2018.
The "Lunar Base" will become a kind of analogue of the International Space Station in satellite orbit. It will be designed for a crew of at least four. The exact arrangement of the living quarters is not yet known. The design of the spacecraft will also include a scientific laboratory, a fuel and cargo module.
The Russian side, according to the portal, can undertake the manufacture of one of the key parts of the apparatus - the gateway required for spacewalk. At the same time, Roscosmos will be able to deliver the gateway to the Moon using the latest Angara-5 rocket, the first successful launch of which took place at the Plisetsk cosmodrome in 2014. In addition, NASA can carry out the task of delivering this part of the station.
Despite the fact that private companies, such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, are also showing interest in the field of space exploration, while a controlled flight to the moon can be carried out by the Federation spacecraft, which Russia began to design in 2009, and the American Orion, which is also located in development stage.
Scientists note that when creating the station they plan to use the latest technologies - for example, autonomous life support systems and ion engines, thanks to which the station can be turned into a full-fledged interplanetary ship.
"This would allow the station to become the first interplanetary spacecraft to travel into deep space to explore asteroids or even reach Mars," Zack said in a statement.
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However, it is too early to talk about plans to travel to other planets with the help of a new space station. If the start of construction of the station is not postponed again, the specialists will not be able to bring the project to life until 2028.