2001: A Space-Time Odyssey

[Michel Van]

what for reply, Shevek23

I answer First ASTO Shuttle and SpaceX later

I know politic is not my big talent in AH.
But this Shuttle is best Compromise NASA can get in this TL, compare to OTL.
i notice i forgot the Payload data in Post (will be fix) but this shuttle carry lower payload as STS because it not using the High Pressure Engine with ISP of 452, But J-2Simplified with ISP 436 sec.
They consider in OTL briefly to Use four J-2S in Shuttle but with ten reuse, they dropped that for RS-25 with promise of hundred reuse, irony the RS-25 manage 10 reuse until it's junk...

use of J-2S the payload goes down considerably around -15%:
54895 pounds into 100 nm orbit at 28° Space Tug operation
27999 pounds into 100 nm orbit at 90° USAF mission
29983 pounds into 100 nm orbit at 55° for Spacelab and Space station III resupply

For Unmanned cargo version with S-IVB
85000 pounds into 100 nm orbit at 28° Space Tug operation or Hubble space telescope
43354 pounds into 100 nm orbit at 90° USAF mission
46425 pounds into 100 nm orbit at 55° for Spacelab and Space station III payload


original NASA wanted Shuttle Payload of 20000 pounds or 9072 kg in payload bay of 39 ft by 10 ftø or 12 meter by 3 meter ø
As the USAF join in that became 40000 pounds or 18144 kg for low Polar orbit, with payload bay of 60 by 15 feetø or 18 meter by 4.6 metersø
in simple words USAF wanted big spy sats in orbit and back.

on Cargo version i remember the Saturn INT-20 (first and third stage as launch rocket) and used this as base for Cargo version
but i not the first, at Boeing and Bellcom had the idea already in 1971.

On Crew rescue system, actually i very vaguely on it. NASA consider the Space Shuttle as "fool prove and incapable of errors" in OTL and ITTL
i make sure that the Shuttle got so bug free as possible, so no SRB malfunction or Ice impact on wings made out ceramics
irony Rockwell proposed Apollo CM as Life boat for Shuttle and Space Station (Boeing even Mercury capsule inside Dyna Soar test vehicle)



On SpaceX it seems that Musk goes for "Night boat to Cairo" approach
The lawyers of SpaceX have Sued Blue Orgin for Violation on Patent-right on Reuse of first stage booster involving landing on ship or platform on sea

this is the simple and easy way to recover a first stage, ballistic landing after return on end of trajectory.
While Flyback is more elegant method to return to launch site, but F-1 need ten General Electric F101-GE-102 jet-engine for that.

On LOX/Methane ambitious full-propellant staged combustion engine, hell no SpaceX will NOT build a scale down version for Falcon
if they do that, with reduce combustion chamber volume, combustion pressure has to rise to keep the ISP of 380,
in Simple Words there cheap easy F-1 engine version mutate into expensive complex RS-25


with end of RD-180 production for USA, Unite Launch Alliance looking for new Engine guess what, it seems that F-1 Engine is back from the Death!
ah year NASA looks also for F-1 as engine for SLS Lox/Kerosine booster...

 

[nixonshead]

On Crew rescue system, actually i very vaguely on it. NASA consider the Space Shuttle as "fool prove and incapable of errors" in OTL and ITTL
i make sure that the Shuttle got so bug free as possible, so no SRB malfunction or Ice impact on wings made out ceramics

I assume there will still be ice formation on the Hydrolox shuttle orbiter, which could impact the flyback booster's wings, but I guess they don't need the ceramic thermal protection tiles, just conventional metal skin, so will be less prone to damage (and such damage would be less catastrophic).

Nice to see Turgidson doing well. I guess that by this point he's already taken taken care of America's "Mine Shaft Gap" and is now ready to deal with the looming "Space Shuttle Gap"

 

[Michel Van]

I assume there will still be ice formation on the Hydrolox shuttle orbiter, which could impact the flyback booster's wings, but I guess they don't need the ceramic thermal protection tiles, just conventional metal skin, so will be less prone to damage (and such damage would be less catastrophic).

Yes, the F-1 wings leading edge are from "Rene'41", much robust as the ceramic stuff of OTL Shuttle.
René 41 is a nickel-based high temperature alloy developed by General Electric.
While the Orbiter got a metal heat shield and not that silicon tiles puzzle.

Nice to see Turgidson doing well. I guess that by this point he's already taken taken care of America's "Mine Shaft Gap" and is now ready to deal with the looming "Space Shuttle Gap"

Congratulations, you notice the little hints on Kubrick work in this TL i put into Posts...

Turgidson feature already in Vietnam War Post and He will return in later Post.

 

[Michel Van]

The Space Shuttle: The Soviet Reaction Part One

In Moscow was the reaction on NASA announcement of Space Shuttle, quite nervous. The Politburo do not understand what was the USA was planning on space flight and why they needed this Spacecraft.
Also they disbelieve about the US launch numbers and yearly payload mass of 600 tons into orbit
The KGB analyst came to total wrong conclusion, that the US Space Shuttle is a USAF Space militarization Program under disguise of the Civilian NASA Odyssey program !
After several Meetings of The Politburo and Military start in August 1972 first of Soviet VPK Military-Industrial Commission meeting dealing with the US shuttle and Odyssey.

Chairman of Commission is Marshall Dmitriy Ustinov, successor of the retired Medelin.
First Vladimir Chelomei and Valentin Glushko were criticize for Failure rates of UR-700 rockets, They defender that the new UR-700 will be "fool prove and incapable of errors"
Komissarov criticize the use of highly toxic fuels and demanded use of Oxygen/Kerosine even it means to build a completely new rocket.
Chelomei presented several proposal, next in development TKS manned spacecraft, he offer LKS a Mini shuttle launch by UR-500 rocket, it had to fulfill multirole mission.
Ustinov ask about LKS payload, Chelomei reply 5 tons, Ustinov counter that Americans can launch 14 to 22 tons into same orbit, Therefore LKS unusable to counter American activity in Space.
On question on Heavy lift rocket Chelomei offers the UR-900 a enlarge UR-700 with option of Nuclear upper stage and the UR-700M a monster rocket with 750 tons payload using Oxygen/Kerosine engines.
The Members of meeting react hostile on UR-900 as more dangerous as UR-700, and favor more the UR-700M
While Ustinov and Keldysh insist a reaction with "A analog tactical-technical characteristic" on the US hardware or how Ustinov put it in simple words "Build it like the American Shuttle".
Implying that the USSR has to reformulation there view on Oxygen/Hydrogen rocket engine technology, Glushko reply it would take too long to develop maybe into 1980s
On design of new Rocket start dispute between Chelomei & Glushko and Barmin, Morzhorin, Semenov. the three favor to abandon the idea of 750 tons payload and identify first the mission goals and there mass.
The Military point out they need 25 tons in Polar orbit, Vladmiir Barmin pointed out a permanent Soviet moon base and Orbital Base, while Academy of Sciences put out need to launch Interplanetary mission also manned.
The Meeting was ended on those points while Ustinov order arrogantly Vladimir Chelomei and stubborn Valentin Glushko to get better proposals until december 1972 or other wise...

On second VPK meeting Chelomei & Glushko presented a completely new design: the UR-1000
it's used a Oxygen/Hydrogen core stage with 4 engine and 6 to 9 Oxygen/Kerosine reusable Booster, the core stage are in two version unmanned for heavy cargo or lunar mission and manned reusable winged one
The last version is analog to US Space Shuttle, bringing Soviet Military satellite into polar orbit or supply a permanent Orbital Base.
The Unmanned core version would launch Space Base or parts for Manned Mars mission ship or the advance LK-1000 or cargo to the Moon
Booster of UR-1000 could be used as smaller rocket, the UR-1000M how replace the UR-500
The reuse of core stage and Ballistic recovery of Booster with Parachute and airbags would reduce costs.
Proposed launch date would be during eleventh 5 year plans of 1981-1985
until this moment, the UR-700 and UR-500 have supply the Soviet space mission
like the Lunar Expeditionary Complex flights to the Moon, the DOS space Station, TKS and ALMAZ missions in low orbit.
Parallel to that a Manned Mars mission architecture had to be study under consideration of running programs.
the Academy of Sciences proposed the Use of Nuclear Ion engine to reach that goal.
to give USSR the possibility for Manned Interplanetary mission in twelve or thirteenth 5 year plans 1986 to 1996.

Ustinov thanks Chelomei & Glushko and other members of VPK meeting for the Proposals
the Third and final VPK Commission meeting on US Space Program in March 1973 will shape the Future of Soviet Space Flight...

 

[Astronomo2010]

great new update, lets See NASA /Europe join missions , to the Moon , A Moon Base , and building massive spaceships , to explore our Solar System . And lets see what they will find . Cant hardly wait for the next update.

 

[Michel Van]

Thanks, Astronomo2010

In pipeline are Lunar Expeditionary Complex , France and West Europe ABM system.
But i hope to get from readers some feedback on UR-1000 rocket.
your opinion is need to finish the second part of The Space Shuttle: The Soviet Reaction !

 

[ryhs]

So, would it be something like GK-175(Energia-2)?

 

[Michel Van]

So, would it be something like GK-175(Energia-2)?

Yes, but using 4 to 9 booster, for Unmanned version.
the Shuttle version Manned with two cosmonauts onboard and if needed a manned cargo Container for Supply the Soviet Space Base.

On Booster Engines i considering a modified RD-270 using Oxygen/Kerosine.
the Oxygen/hydrogen engine are same as Energia.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

While Ustinov and Keldysh insist a reaction with "A analog tactical-technical characteristic" on the US hardware or how Ustinov put it in simple words "Build it like the American Shuttle".
Implying that the USSR has to reformulation there view on Oxygen/Hydrogen rocket engine technology, Glushko reply it would take too long to develop maybe into 1980s
On design of new Rocket start dispute between Chelomei & Glushko and Barmin, Morzhorin, Semenov. the three favor to abandon the idea of 750 tons payload and identify first the mission goals and there mass.
The Military point out they need 25 tons in Polar orbit, Vladmiir Barmin pointed out a permanent Soviet moon base and Orbital Base, while Academy of Sciences put out need to launch Interplanetary mission also manned.
The Meeting was ended on those points while Ustinov order arrogantly Vladimir Chelomei and stubborn Valentin Glushko to get better proposals until december 1972 or other wise...


On second VPK meeting Chelomei & Glushko presented a completely new design: the UR-1000
it's used a Oxygen/Hydrogen core stage with 4 engine and 6 to 9 Oxygen/Kerosine reusable Booster, the core stage are in two version unmanned for heavy cargo or lunar mission and manned reusable winged one
The last version is analog to US Space Shuttle, bringing Soviet Military satellite into polar orbit or supply a permanent Orbital Base.
The Unmanned core version would launch Space Base or parts for Manned Mars mission ship or the advance LK-1000 or cargo to the Moon
Booster of UR-1000 could be used as smaller rocket, the UR-1000M how replace the UR-500
The reuse of core stage and Ballistic recovery of Booster with Parachute and airbags would reduce costs.
Proposed launch date would be during eleventh 5 year plans of 1981-1985
until this moment, the UR-700 and UR-500 have supply the Soviet space mission

In 1972 the Soviets had only just launched, IIRC, their first upper-stage Lox/LH2 engine, unlike the US which had had those engines for a decade by then. Going in a single jump to main-engine size engines? Wow. That's ... ambitious.

Note that OTL, the first Energija launch wasn't until 1987... Pushing that forward that much would be tough.

Also, those recoverable boosters are not going to work. Not that you're expecting them to, necessarily. Look at the initial versions of the Russian Angara rocket, which was to have had fly-back boosters - and they've given up on that entirely now, as far as I can tell. (Of course, Angara's about a decade late and counting, right?)

 

[Michel Van]

In 1972 the Soviets had only just launched, IIRC, their first upper-stage Lox/LH2 engine, unlike the US which had had those engines for a decade by then. Going in a single jump to main-engine size engines? Wow. That's ... ambitious.

Note that OTL, the first Energija launch wasn't until 1987... Pushing that forward that much would be tough.

OTL the RD-0120 development went spectacular with out problems from start in 1976 until first static test in march 1979, final qualification test in may 1987
here the program start 3 years earlier so UR-1000 could be ready in 1984~1982

Also, those recoverable boosters are not going to work. Not that you're expecting them to, necessarily. Look at the initial versions of the Russian Angara rocket, which was to have had fly-back boosters - and they've given up on that entirely now, as far as I can tell. (Of course, Angara's about a decade late and counting, right?)

if booster recovery works let see wen this TL reach 1980s
Yep Angara is a decade late, but it's Manufacture build the Proton rocket and had switch to Ker/Lox hardware with R&D program on shoestring budget by government.
but there light on end of tunnel it made a Suborbital flight ! yeaaah….

 

[Michel Van]

oh i forgot this here
how they wanted to recover the Energia Booster
for UR-1000 would same method

 

[e of pi]

I'm inclined to agree with Dathi. IOTL, 1972 had only just seen early Soviet attempts at hydrolox engines. Here, many of those early engines have likely even been butterflied, since UR-700 is all-hypergol. That means that even if it's starting in the very early 70s, the engine side would be from a near-standing start. Also, I don't see a Soviet response in general being more prompt than IOTL--they didn't react particularly slower than their normal rate to Shuttle, so I'm not sure that this program's timing will be much ahead of schedule, which means I really think that a first flight before 1985 or so is incredibly optimistic, especially with the continuing massive costs of the LK-700 landings and such.

 

[SpaceGeek]

Keep in mind it's only a proposal at this point. The following post will include the decision of whether they go through with it or not. There will be a variety of poposals made in this TL that will be accepted and that won't be accepted.

Michel and I thought it would be a good idea to split what was originally inteded as a single post into two posts, the proposal, and the decision, so thatway we could recieve input over it's plausibility first.

 

[Michel Van]

Luna 22, 23, 24 or Lunar Expeditionary Complex one

After six months of studying the data, the Soviet academy of sciences pinpointed a landing site for the LEK-1.
They select the Mare Crisium to get additional data to Luna 18 as the landing side was chosen near Mons Usov, so cosmonaut could investigate the Mare plane to west and highland to east.
On August 1975 the first part of LEK-1 was launch, Lunar Expeditionary Module (LeM) a modified FGB Module form the TKS, providing living space for 2 cosmonauts for 45 days.
After 4 days and 18 hours later the LeM landed safely on Moon. it deployed it solar wings and started it's radio beacon for next phase.
At Baikonur Cosmodrom the launch teams were busy with the second UR-700, it payload a pressurized Ye-8 Rover "Lunochod 3" build by KBOM,
A six wheeled vehicle for two cosmonaut, expected for range of 200 km for 12 days use. Carrying drilling and soil-moving equipment.
Lunokhod 3 landed in October close to LeM
Over the months the launch crews made the next two UR-700 ready to launch.

The first is Lunar-24 for Cosmonauts Boris Volynov and Vitaly Zholobov to landed close to LeM, in 07 November 1975 for a 14 day mission
The second is Lunar-25 is unmanned rescue / Sample return mission, in case the Rover fails, to far away to walk to LeM, the second LK-700 would land unmanned near by and crew fly back.
Otherwise the second LK-700 land at end of Mission to bring the samples back to earth or in case Lunar-24 fails bringing crew back to Earth.
On first day Volynov and Zholobov checkout the LeM and hibernate the system on there Lunar-24 lander.
The second day they on packet the Rover from landing stage.

As the Crew carried out the first long-duration extended mission at world first lunar outpost, the launch crew keep the fourth UR-700 ready to launch.
Volynov and Zholobov tested the "Lunokhod 3" whiched worked well. The crew managed to drive 200 km over Mare Crisium without problems and
managed to collect valuable samples thanks to the rover's digger and drill equipment, after 12 day they had collected a record breaking 255 kg on Lunar samples.
One week into the mission Volynov and Zholobov start to have health problems, both start to coughs especially in morning.
Ground control fear that both had catched common cold, but the medical sensors show no symptoms of common cold like fever. The doctors were perplexity.
Also as the symptom also showed inside the Rover after crew spent there night during excursion.


19 November, the launch of the fourth LK-700 ended in disaster, The "fool prove and incapable of errors" failed sordid. The rest of rocket impact near Mongolian border.
But biggest disaster was that Crew escape system of VA capsule failed to pull it from dying rocket.
This open the eyes of engineers working in OKB-52 that launch escape tower needed serious overhaul before any future mission could occur.
If a cosmonaut crew had been aboard that flight, or had the Rover malfunction on lunar surface, they surely would have perished !

Meanwhile on the lunar surface, the cosmonauts were informed of the cancellation of their mission, They had to return immediate to earth with only 40 kg samples, leaving the rest behind in LeM.
Hoping that those samples could be recovery by second mission to LEK-1. Zholobov: "We had achieve so much and in the end we failed".


Consequences:
The investigation in UR-700 failure revealed that 41 seconds after the Booster were jettisoned, one engine of the central stage started to move violently to the right.
Giving the rocket a rotation around it's long axis, this Rotation increased until the fuel lies on the side wall of the tanks so that no fuel got into the engines.
Damage in the engine hydraulics, by a piece probably a bolt from jettisoned Booster were suspected.
The problem with the VA escape system was that it was not design to deal with this situation, also it was discovered that technicians had not proper installed it's electronics "because it has to be launched Unmanned anyway"
Solving those problems will take a lot of time and effort.

After thorough medical examination on Volynov and Zholobov, they found the cause of strange coughs, both suffer from pneumoconiosis by Moondust.
The mission briefing revealed that both carry allot of moon dust inside the LeM after each EVA.
Meaning a serious problem for next crew to arrive at LEK-1.

Despite the numerous faults, failures and malfunctions to the outside world Luna-24 was seen as major victory for the Soviet Union in spaceflight as it was the first long duration lunar outpost.

The pressurized Lunakhod rover traveled ten times farther and ten times longer than the American lunar buggy had previously. All records for duration on the lunar surface (which previously stood at just 72 hours) had been utterly shattered by the two week mission. But as the world stood in awe at the Soviet accomplishment, OKB-52 knew they were at the moment lucky, it would be some time before they could safely repeat their accomplishment, may aswell enjoy the moment.


Special thanks to member ryhs for helping to correct the russian grammar

 

[ryhs]

Great update and great art!
But you do have some mistakes in your transliteration, as "LZhM" would be "ЛЖМ" in cyrillics, and "Lunoсhod"(Lunokhod) would be "Луноход". But your transliteration programm replaces "H" with a hard sign, and does not read it with the previous letter, as "zh" would be "ж" and "сh" - "ч". Also, "х" is usually transliterated as "kh". As for the complex itself, it would be "Лунный Экспедиционный Комплекс - 1", I think, as in "Луна-18", for example.
EDIT: "ОДНО" is wrong here, however. The right wording would be "ОДИН", but it would seem strange, as would writing "Луна Восемнадцать" instead of "Луна-18".
Also, why hadn't UR-700 got any civilian name? And LK-700, for that matter?
Rockets were generally named by their first payload before "Zenit", I think. As was "Proton" renamed from the proposed name "Hercules", IIRC. So UR-700 should probably be named "Luna", as LK-700, it's first succesful payload, was incorporated into the "Luna" programm, and the actual "Luna" rocket would be renamed as "Vostok-L" as per OTL.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Great update and great art!
But you do have some mistakes in your transliteration, as "LZhM" would be "ЛЖМ" in cyrillics, and "Lunoсhod"(Lunokhod) would be "Луноход". But your transliteration programm replaces "H" with a hard sign, and does not read it with the previous letter, as "zh" would be "ж" and "сh" - "ч". Also, "х" is usually trgyansliterated as "kh". As for the complex itself, it would be "Лунный Экспедиционный Комплекс - 1", I think, as in "Луна-18", for example.
EDIT: "ОДНО" is wrong here, however. The right wording would be "ОДИН", but it would seem strange, as would writing "Луна Восемнадцать" instead of "Луна-18".
Also, why hadn't UR-700 got any civilian name? And LK-700, for that matter?
Rockets were generally named by their first payload before "Zenit", I think. As was "Proton" renamed from the proposed name "Hercules", IIRC. So UR-700 should probably be named "Luna", as LK-700, it's first succesful payload, was incorporated into the "Luna" programm, and the actual "Luna" rocket would be renamed as "Vostok-L" as per OTL.

Heh. I figured LEM was Lunar Expeditionary Module - it's got the right 'e' for it. The 'ts' in the word Lunokhod also threw me. I think your analysis is likely correct as to what happened.

 

[Michel Van]

Great update and great art!
But you do have some mistakes in your transliteration, as "LZhM" would be "ЛЖМ" in cyrillics, and "Lunoсhod"(Lunokhod) would be "Луноход". But your transliteration programm replaces "H" with a hard sign, and does not read it with the previous letter, as "zh" would be "ж" and "сh" - "ч". Also, "х" is usually transliterated as "kh". As for the complex itself, it would be "Лунный Экспедиционный Комплекс - 1", I think, as in "Луна-18", for example.
EDIT: "ОДНО" is wrong here, however. The right wording would be "ОДИН", but it would seem strange, as would writing "Луна Восемнадцать" instead of "Луна-18".
Also, why hadn't UR-700 got any civilian name? And LK-700, for that matter?
Rockets were generally named by their first payload before "Zenit", I think. As was "Proton" renamed from the proposed name "Hercules", IIRC. So UR-700 should probably be named "Luna", as LK-700, it's first succesful payload, was incorporated into the "Luna" programm, and the actual "Luna" rocket would be renamed as "Vostok-L" as per OTL.

Many Thanks, ryhs !

i'm simple "fritz" who made his first step into understand russian and use the automatic translator of Mac OSX. what is not 100% accurate, but better than nothing.
The acronyms i got from Astronautix and russian space web.

on UR-700 and LK-700, i had no idea they would be named, so i keep the UR-700 and took therm "Luna" also for manned landing, it look logical for me.

I will make the correction on illustration and Text

 

[ryhs]

Heh. I figured LEM was Lunar Expeditionary Module - it's got the right 'e' for it. The 'ts' in the word Lunokhod also threw me. I think your analysis is likely correct as to what happened.

Well, "LEM" would be "ЛЭМ" in russian, but I thought that "ЛЖМ" would stand for Lunar Living Module, and "expeditionary" was used only for the whole complex.
As for the naming of the rockets, it just seems strange for me, that while UR-500 was named as "Proton" ITTL, UR-700 just remained UR-700. The other "Universal Rocket's" would be ICBM's UR-100 and UR-200, and where UR-500 should be there would be a gap. I think that either UR-500 should not be named or UR-700 should be named, but stranger things happened OTL, of course.

on UR-700 and LK-700, i had no idea they would be named, so i keep the UR-700 and took therm "Luna" also for manned landing, it look logical for me.

It's just that the same name can be(and usually was) used for the rocket, programme, spacecraft and each mission of that programme, just as there was "Vostok" programme, "Vostok" rocket, "Vostok" spacecraft and several "Vostok" missions through "Vostok-1" to "Vostok-6". As there was "Luna" rocket for the first "Luna" probes, but it is long since gone by the 70's and, I think, is already referred as "Vostok-L".

 

[Michel Van]

The Space Shuttle: the Soviet Reaction: Part Two

Soviet Interim Repot on Space Activity during the ninth 5 year plan, September 1974.

The Changes imposed on the third VPK meeting are progress as scheduled

Decree 437-258
The ALMAZ OPS program is released from It's Military Duty and now becomes the Durable Orbital Station (DOS) to counter Americans Station 1 and 2 activity.
The reason for this, is higher cost for same results when contrasted to unmanned system. Who are now under priority program for the tenth and eleventh 5-year plans.

Decree 437-160
It's Resupply Craft TKS is ready for Manned flights in the tenth 5-year plan, around 1976,
The TKS will put three Cosmonauts and there supplies for 90 day mission to a ALMAZ DOS
Expected is that already ALMAZ DOS-3 will have occupation time of 360 days
with learning curve of future mission is possbly to increase the occupation of a ALMAZ DOS to over 1000 days. To end of tenth 5-year plan

Decree 437-161
The "American-Soviet Test Program 1" in schedule to Visit the American Space Station 2 with TKS-3 in the year 1976.
A "American Soviet Test Progam 2" with join Soviet american dual lunar landing is under study and Diplomatic negotiations has begone.
If those fail, a second TKS visit to American station-2 or a US astronaut on board of TKS under Intercosmos program is also under consideration.

Decree 437-165
The Lunar Expeditionary Complex 1 is ready to be complete in 1975. it will serve for 3 Luna mission in years 1975, 1976 and 1977. with total occupation time of maxium 45 days.
The delay on twelve UR-700 rockets are compensate do reduction on need of UR-500 rockets on ALMAZ OPS launches, do termination by the Military.
The results of LEK-1 will define a second Lunar Expeditionary Complex for period 1978 to 1981, with total occupation time of 90 days.

Decree 570-129
The UR-1000 program for new Reusable Rocket to counter the Americans Space Shuttle activities in 1980s
is overruled by Generalsectary Kosigin according the Special Decree 576-001S

Decree 570-130
The research program on new Nuclear reactor for space will run under control of State Research institute Moscow under name TOPAZ
There goal is to development of a fission reactor with power of 150 to 500 kW.
the differentially power need is demanded by development on Ion engines by Academy of Sciences.

Special Decree 576-001S
According the changes personal imply by Generalsectary Kosigin on behalf of first secretary of Kaszakh.
the OKB-52 and OKB-456 are order to develop and build so fast as possibly the UR-800/600 rocket using Oxygen and kerosine propellant.
Once the UR-800 / UR-600 is operational has to replace immediate the UR-700 and UR-500 models.
the OKB-52 is permitted for development on reuse UR-800/ UR-600 first stage.
The UR-1000 program is delayed until then, presumably to twelve or thirteenth 5 year plan.

 

[Shevek23]

So, no development of a hydrogen-oxygen upper stage, just straight to nuclear fission powered ion rockets? And switching from hypergolics to ker-lox heavy launchers?

Given that Soviets don't do solids, it's good to focus on kerosene for the first stages anyway; if not trying for hydrogen engines for the upper stages frees up funding for making practical nuclear-powered ion drives work, then that might work out I guess.

Not sure that nuclear plants can be made light and efficient enough to be preferable over solar-powered systems for propelling ion rockets, at least not for the inner system--out around Jupiter and beyond the nukes attainable in the 1970s would be better I guess.

It has become more obvious in the past few posts how the timeline might be leading to the sort of tech seen in Kubrick and Clarke's movie. Numbering the Western space stations so that we are on "5" in 2000; a Shuttle program leading to the spaceplane Heywood Floyd takes up to said station. And here we see nuclear power in space mentioned I believe for the first time, anyway for driving some sort of rocket engine.

Fission plants generating electricity to drive an ion rocket are still a pretty far cry from Discovery's engines--I never read the World of 2001 so only online descriptions of unknown reliability tell me that Clarke says those engines are advanced fission engines that heat up a plasma which presumably has ISP in the ballpark of a good ion drive--sort of a mix of very hot thermal nuke engines plus electromagnetic super-thrusting on the resulting plasma I guess. Nor do we know the reactant--I suppose hydrogen, and I think Clarke wanted there to be big fuel tanks attached to Discovery's spine--presumably three sets, one for Jupiter rendezvous, two more to leave Jupiter and then brake into Earth orbit again, the missing fourth one (probably half the length of the long spine separating the engines from the life/mission sphere, for reasons that should be obvious now) used up and dropped in boosting to a Jovian encounter trajectory. Kubrick said no though (don't know if for budget reasons or just because he thought they'd spoil the look of the spacecraft) so just from the screen canon we'd have to guess at an even more efficient engine system--I always assumed they had to be some kind of fusion engines.

Anyway Soviet capability of matching and surpassing these engines has to wait until the construction of Leonov, in the mid-2000s, some thirty years after these mid-70s directives. The book called it the "Sakharov Drive" which suggests that scientist-engineer is better reconciled to the regime than he was OTL by this time. Well, you got rid of Brezhnev and you didn't put in someone like Shelepin in his place, so that might help. Plus reconciliation with China, and bettering relations with the West, and of course survival of the USSR until 2010, all suggest he might have been more pleased with the way things were going in the Soviet Union and therefore had one last genius idea in him, presumably yet another form of plasma-fusion engine.

All of that awaits breakthroughs as yet undreamed of (well, dreamed of, but hardly something one can plan on in 1976) so of course they go ahead with tech that is known to be workable, at least theoretically.

If the Soviets can hope to make practical ion engines (practical for manned spaceships I mean, thrusting at high enough thrusts to use the high ISP to achieve big delta-Vs in days instead of years--when people say solar is as good as nuclear they probably only refer to the latter sorts of low thrusts we can achieve today OTL) by the 1980s I guess they are going ahead with Moonbase plans of their own; they probably also are designing highly advanced fission plants for power generation on the ground (and God knows what uses for weapons-grade material production--but no WWIII until 2010 at the earliest, right?)

Nice to see Kosygin refused to let the USSR get thrown into the astronautical briar patch of imitating the American shuttle down to the last bolt as happened OTL with Buran. Presumably Soviet launchers of the 1980s will remain rockets, albeit with recoverable first stages, and any spaceplane like systems will be satellites launched on rockets external to them, that might return as glider capsules, or they might stick with old-fashioned capsules but of more advanced design--successors to TKS I guess since that system will already be on line in the Seventies.