The Vostochny cosmodrome under construction in the Amur Region can be used to launch a scientific space probe designed to search for proto-matter and traces of extraterrestrial civilizations, Gennady Raikunov, Director General of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, told reporters on Wednesday
In the summer of 2010, the preliminary design of a new cosmodrome was completed, as well as the protection of draft designs of a medium-class launch vehicle with increased carrying capacity and a new manned spacecraft.
“In the future, the main purpose of the Vostochny is to launch spacecraft for planetary research, including the Moon, Mars, possibly Mercury, as well as asteroids,” he said at a press conference in Korolev, Moscow Region, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Mission Control Center (MCC) …
According to the head of the branch scientific institute of Roscosmos, the possibility of launching from the Eastern spacecraft to the so-called Lagrange point is being discussed. This point, where the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth are balanced, is located about 1.5 million kilometers from our planet. Having arrived at this point, the device seems to "freeze" and can be there forever.
According to Raikunov, the spacecraft launched at the Lagrange point can be used, in particular, to detect protomatter, that is, the remnants of the substance from which the universe was created. “There are also thoughts about looking for other civilizations at this point, because those traces of them that have got there continue to remain there,” the general director of the Central Research Institute explained, noting that “it’s quite difficult to get out of there”.
The first unmanned space launch from Vostochny is planned for 2015, and a manned one - in 2018
According to Raikunov, in the summer of 2010, the preliminary design of the new cosmodrome was completed, as well as the protection of the draft designs of a medium-class carrier rocket with increased carrying capacity and a new manned spacecraft. “It was decided to continue the work within the framework of technical design. These works will be carried out within a year,”he said.
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The pace of work on the creation of a new cosmodrome allows us to hope that the planned construction dates will be met, said Raikunov. He recalled that the first unmanned space launch from Vostochny is planned for 2015, and a manned one - in 2018. “Today, if the intensity of the work continues, these terms can be met. In case of failures, they can be shifted to the right,”concluded the CEO.