2001: A Space-Time Odyssey

Now if they armed it with a nuke, the got a good crude cruise missile. 

Mars is getting a lot of attention, now only it needs some boots on the ground.

52 - Soviet space program in first half of 1980s.

As USA announce Ares program for manned Mars landing,
Became the Soviet Alitia study, a official program, moved into top priory with budget increase, on cost of other space programs.
But since it needed Hardware from other program like Space Station Module or Zarya Capsule could those continue with out a problem.

During the Oil crisis 1973 to 1983 the Soviet Union Economy boomed with Export of Oil and Gas,
This change radical in 1983 with sharp drop in oil prices by 50%, now the Soviet plan Economy had less Budget to work with !
It let to Economic turmoil in USSR that affected their citizen.

Also let Budget cut to stop of programs like the Norther river reversal (The diversion of river Volga, Dvina and Pechora from Siberia to Central Asia)
and cancelation of several military program, that let to serviere protest of Red Army, follow by rumours of military putsch against Politburo.
The Budget cut happen also to Galatika program, Ministry of General Machine-building (MoM) had to adapt with less money,
but could compensate this with production of consumer products .
The Red Army and MoM combine their effort for protect their Interest from political meddling.

The plans for Moon base were put on hold, for moment two or one Zarya mission a year for Moon exploration.
Proposal to cut down the New Space Station complex only to main module, let to sharp protest by Military and MoM, So Politburo drop the proposal.
This Station now served as central hub in Space Architecture of MoM and Red Army

In 1980s the USA was a head in space race with biggest Space Station in Orbit, Space Shuttle with space Tug and first nuclear Shuttle.
And returned to Moon and made preparation to land astronauts on Mars,

The Soviet Zarya program went well first manned capsule went to Salyut 5 and 6 as Zarya-1 to 4
While first L3M komplex landed as Lunar 32 on Moon (habitat with Zarya return module on return stage and descend stage)
The N1-F MV rocket work inside it parameters, despite some pogo problem in Block B what let to one engine failure,
After 14 days on Surface during Lunar night began problem in Luna-32, as one of the Fuel cell failed, reducing power supply for lander instrument.
The Mission was aborted and Lander return to Earth with its Zaria descent module landing safe in USSR.

The first manned mission to Moon was Zarya 5 in 1980.
On board Fyodor Kuznec first soviet geologist on moon and two veterans of Soyuz lunar mission,
They landing save in Mare Fecunditatis, a place the Soviet academe of science was very fun of, they consider it as site for a soviet lunar base.
Crew was welcome by new generation of Lunokhod rover, able to drive two cosmonauts up to 15 km from landing site.


With planned surface stay of 14 days, it would beat every record on moon,
One week into mission the crew develop a harsh cough special in morning and it worsen.
The Mission was stop and crew return on day 9, medical exam show the three had pneumoconiosis from moon dust!
The Apollo crew who stay only to three day were lower exposed to dust as Zarya-5 crew, the L3M underwent modification to deal with moon dust.
Better air-filters and humidifier, vacuum cleaner for Space suits, what delay the next Lunar Zarya mission for a year.
While US astronaut under Diana program face same problem.

In 1982 the Soviets launch their newest Space Station into orbit MIR, a module of 88 tons and equip with 6 docking ports,
and it was only first module later came second module of MIR and 12 smaller modules in size of former Salut stations dockt on that giant station.
Mir was not only biggest Space Station ever launch, it was operated by 24 cosmonauts, it served as central hub for Soviet Space infrastructure.
Gerkules Space tugs (nuclear power Ion engines) visit satellites, dock and transport them to MIR were the Inspected and returned to their orbit.
Allot of those satellites were unmanned spy sats who Dockt on Mir and get served refuel reequip and tug back to their orbit.
The Station served on test on human longterm exposure on zero gravity, needed for Alitia Mars mission. 
but Original Mir was to be nuclear powered, but do budget cut and safety concerns, Mir was Solar power with four array with total 52 kW power
Not sufficed for full Station Operation…

For moment was Alitia program running on full speed, testing more powerful nuclear reactors and Ion engines,
Technical Design offices testing mockup and prototypes for Manned Mars Lander.
with goal to launch in end of 1980s a Manned Mars Mission.

53-The Ares program

As President Glenn made bold move for Manned Mars Landing program.
NASA pull out there plans, MSFC used the 1968 proposal by Von Braun since that was based on Infrastructure NASA had for moment: Nuclear Ferry, Space Station Module.

What missing was Manned Exploration Module MEM in short, this was most important Hardware for Mission.
MSFC look into various proposals and ended with one also from 1968, the Rockwell MEM proposal to bring 4 men to Mars surface for stay up to 30 days.
But the Design had be adapted after results of Viking landers, the proposed Ballute (Balloon working like Parachute) was too small, they replaced it with large Supersonic Parachute.
This would reduce speed with 7 G’s deceleration, until MEM reach subsonic speed at 3km altitude from here Hydrogen/Lox rocket engines do soft landing
Hydrogen/Lox storage problem was solved under Space Tug program and MEM would feature that hardware in descent and ascent stage.
But here starts the problems MEM was Rockwell international design, Main contractor became Grumman who build Lunar Module and Space Tugs !
Rockwell International Management went even so far to sue NASA in Washington D.C. Court !
NASA Administration was furious about this and unleash their lawyers. In end the Judge gave it verdict: It’s a NASA Program they can decide who become Contractor or not!

In meantime the First boiler Plate article were tested, launch by Shuttle booster on Suborbital trajectories to test in high altitude similar to Mars Atmosphere.
Flight behaviour was sufficient for descent and landing, but the large Supersonic Parachute failed on testing and need redesign.
one of those boiler Plate was modified for Salvage One mission, the return of Damage NERVA engine to earth for evaluation by AEC.

The Prototype Testing on orbit went better,
Biggest challenge were long duration test, were MEM emulate the trip to Mars in Hangar in Earth orbit, the Transit time were between 6 to 9 months.
Here the Hangar had to protect MEM and keep the propellants cool in there tanks until use.
That Test had problems, boil off was higher as computer models indicate, until scientists notice they forgot that Infrared radiation Earth atmosphere reflects, heating the Hanger more as in Deep space !
The restart of the Propulsion module after 6 months, show issue with helium gas bubbles in feed lines and ignitions problems.
Another issue was software for MEM four all digital IBM computer, The Astronauts needed Training program on MEM to practice the landing during Transit to Mars.
This program turn MEM into Simulator with out activating the systems, unfortunately that Program could intervene the Flight program,
what happen during orbital testing and Ground training in MEM simulators at JSC. It was a wiring error between four Avionics Computers, that could activate the wrong computer.
in mean time the Flight system and Hardware were tested on the Space Station Skybase like human long duration flight and advance Life-support systems with success.
Very well went also the long duration stay of Astronauts on board, emulating Mars mission, giving valuable data for method to keep crew fit and vital in micro gravity.
Also Novum are US female Astronauts with First American woman in Space with Anna Lee Fisher to Starbase, follow by Sally K. Ride Moon landing with Diana 8 mission.
Despite the successes of US female Astronauts, NASA was clear in one point the first Expedition to Mars will be Man crews only.
Anna Lee Fisher

NASA would send two Ship too Mars with each 6 Men on board and two landers, in case of emergency the crew of ship could evacuate to other ship.
Dispute rise on landing sites, JSC wanted safety for crew first and nearby landing spots, the Scientist wanted two different landing sites for more geological Data.
They settle on Mangala Valles (10°S 150°W in Tharsis region) a region between Marisian Highland and lowland both landers would land 16 km apart in low and High lands.
To maximised the scientific output NASA took ESRO proposal for two German rovers that land 2 years prior Manned Mission collect samples, Astronauts would collect after landing.
They fly as Viking 7&8 in 1987 to Mars. planned first Mission would arrive at Mars in 1989.
In case MEM was not ready the Hangar would filled with Probes and Sample Return Hardware if available in 1989…



At Los Alamos AEC overworked their NERVA engines for better performance, needed for ARES program.
They found a solution CERMEL, a composite material made out tungsten, gadolinium, molybdenum and rhenium.
it was already tested in 1970s but do high production price and difficult Manufacture,
They used cheaper Composite Graphite UC-ZrC Alloy for first generation NERVA engine.
Now in 1980s they had better production ability and more budget, so Los Alamos change to CERMEL
The Second generation NERVA engine had thanks CREMEL now a specific impulse of 880 second.
This reduce needed propellant mass for upcoming Mars mission by 10%, what reduce need on additional Hydrogen Tanks on two mars Ships.

In 1987 start Los Alamos a new program under NASA/USAF
A Improved better working Nuclear Engine under project Timberwind.
Goal was specific impulse 1000 seconds, with higher thrust and lower engine mass

54-Halley’s Comet


Every 76 years come a Comet back into Solarsystem, the man who discovers this was Edmond Halley.
As last time Halley’s Comet past true was 1910 and was like every passing quite eventless
But this time as the Comet reach in 1985 the inner Solarsystem, it was welcome by Fleet of spacecrafts !

Italy was driving force behind European effort Giotto, they build the Probe with ESRO sensors and german camera.
it was launch by ELGO B rocket on 2 July 1985
Supported was Giotto by Soviets probes how guide the Probe closer to Halley and offer communication relays

The USA launch Ames probe „de Lacaille“
A simple flyby probe launch by Space tugs from Earth Orbit Shuttle on 16 July 1985, it past 20 December 1985

China launch also small probe „Beixing“ that use Venus gravity for fly by mission, Follow by India "ketu" probe  
and Japan's first interplanetary spacecraft, Sakigaki

Germany manage to reactivated their Helios 3 probe who orbit Sun, inside mercury orbit, the probe gave limited scientific data.

But it was soviet Union who stole The Show with Three space probes
The first two were VeGa (acronym for Vernera and Gallej) a Soviet French join venture, Modified Venera probes with french experiments on board
Launch in December 1984 on two N2F, on June 1985, they do fly by at Venus dropping the two soviets landers and two french ballon probes there,
using the planet gravity to catapult them to Halley’s, here they study the comet and support Giotto close approach to Comet core in March 1986

The Third mission was more of a Experiment,
The new generation of Gercules Space Tug with Nuclear reactors and Ion engines and flight computer and sensors of Yupiter Probe series.
Launch may 1983 on a N2F rocket the Gercuels-Gallej spent next 230 days escaping earth gravity field.
Follow by 180 day coast then the Probe reactivate it’s Ion engines and made sharp turn and accelerate to rendezvous with Comet.
on 16 December 1985 Gercuels-Gallej reach it target and begin 100 day prime science program

it’s supported the VeGa and Giotto probe missions on 13 march 1986, here
Giotto manage with their help to approach the Comet core around 196 km, until it was destroy by comet debris.
but thanks Gercuels-Gallej who serve as data recorder for Giotto could transmit data back to Earth.

After it prime mission, Gercuels-Gallej started a extended survey of Halley Comet following it’s orbit into far site of Solarsystem.
Gercuels-Gallej planned as feasibility test for up coming Mars mission, became one of most successful space probe of Soviet history.

55 - Gorb… who ?

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born on 2 march, 1931 in village of Privolnoya.
He survived the great famine of 1932-33 and the second world war, with age of 21 he joined the Communist party in 1952.
During 1950s He study in University, in 1966 he graduated in economist Administration, after he abandon his plans for Agricultural Administration.
In 1970s Gorbachev made successful career in communist party,
As his Sponsor in Party, Kulakov died in office in 1978, became Gorbachev his successor.
in 1979 he enter the Politburo as protege of Yuri Andropov, during that time Gorbachev travel with several Delegation in foreign countries.
were he made quite impression as Statesman.

As in 1984 Yuri Andropov died, The USSR was in Trouble, do drop in Oil prise, suffer the Soviet economy.
in mean time the dissatisfied Military became rebellious, while the divided Reformist fractions and Conservatives struggle for leadership of USSR.
Next to that were a international incident caused by Red Army
In 1983 had a MIG-33 shut down a South Korean Boeing 747 that drifted into Soviet Airspace, believing its a USAF Boeing 747 ELINT

The conservatives believed they had chance to get control, they hopes were brutal crushed in minutes,
During election of the new Secretary, happen bizarre event as two KGB agents drag conservative candidate Chernenko into Politburo, put him on a chair.
while a Conservative read a statement while Chernenko was in zombie like state. the Military were looking on each other and made decision.
Yuri Andropov made it clear in his political Testament who will be his successor: New Leader of USSR was Mikhail Gorbachev

He face allot of problems, the Soviet economy situation, reunite the reformist and satisfy the Military and deal with Cold War.

On Foreign politic Gorbachev went double tracked, diplomatic initiative for disarmament, on same time modernised the military arsenal and look for new options.

The Red Army demanded to Installed large Orbital combat platforms for Soviet Ballistic missile defence, since USA study this.
While Strategic Missile Troops urge to install nuclear arsenal in space, best on the Moon, for deterrence and as counterstrike in case of Nuclear War.
Gorbachev was not happy about this, but authorised Polyus a prototype for Orbital combat platforms.
Also demand the Strategic Missile Troops to use a Moon base as emergency command center, if there Serpukhov-15 and Belorezk-16 is destroy.
Gorbachev Also gave his ok for that, under disguise of a Soviet lunar Base expansions, once that was installed on Lunar surface.

On Economics was more challenging, the traditional centrally planned economy of USSR and East Block became more a hindrance, long term it would let to collapse !
Gorbachev had to make change, Lucky for him, his predecessor made first step in right direction.
His transition Program or „The New Economic Plan“ (TNEP) was radical, the abandonment of centrally planned economy in favour of a social market economy like France !
This let turmoil in Administration and State companies, special Gosplan the agency responsible for centrally planned economy, fight hard against TNEP.
But Gosplan director Nikolai K. Baibkov was over 75 years old and was removed by younger economist Nikolai v. Talyzin, loyal to Gorbachev.
Talyzin change the purpose of Gosplan from planning the economy in four years cycles, into studies for investment and infrastructural needs ever four years.
The Soviet discontinue of economic four years plan and abandon of the centrally planned economy, send shockwave true the Communist World !
The East Block all together bury the old system and kickstart their economy, like wise Vietnam.
Others were not so happy, Fidel Castro condemned TNEP and in China leader Ye Qun declared Gorbachev as traitor to all communist principle.
This let to deterioration in relations of Kuba and China toward USSR and East block, but both were depend on Soviet economy…

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is only leader of USSR who ever resign from Office for personal reasons.
in 1993 he declared his resignation do personal problems, his wife had suffers from a Stroke and during diagnostic revealed she had leukaemia.