The Russian base on the Moon can be built in just ten years, and the project cost is only 550 billion rubles. Building a four-person base will not require new technology.
This statement was made by Alexander Ilyin, general designer of the Lin Industrial company, which develops the Taimyr ultralight rocket, reports TASS.
As a launch vehicle, Ilyin proposed using the modernized heavy "Angara", the first launch of which took place on 23 December. The ship can be created from the hulls of the descent vehicle and the Soyuz utility compartment, and the landing module - based on the Fregat upper stage. The construction of the lunar base will require 13 launches of heavy rockets, and to maintain its vital activity - 37 launches (within five years).
Ilyin also spoke about a promising site for the first lunar settlement - this is Mount Malapert in the region of the satellite's south pole.
“This is a fairly flat plateau with a direct line of sight to the Earth, which provides good communication conditions and is a convenient landing site. There is sunlight on the mountain for 89 percent of the time, and the duration of the night, which happens only a few times a year, does not exceed 3-6 days,”Ilyin said
However, Lev Zeleny, director of the RAS Space Research Institute, called the project premature. Before starting the construction of a base on the Moon, it is necessary to develop technologies for ensuring human life, as well as to consider radiation protection.
Zeleny called the Lin Industrial project an "Artek fantasy", while positively assessing the talented "dreamers": their ideas and developments may be useful in the future.
Moon Seven Project. Photo from the official website of Lin Industrial
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