Constructors from Dnipropetrovsk dream about the Moon

DNIPROPETROVSK — The competent jury comprised of business representatives has examined their project of a takeoff and landing module for transportation of the scientific and research equipment to the Moon and Mars. As the research manager of the project Volodymyr Shulha told a press conference, they had won the contest owing to the development of an absolutely new rocket engine. “The contest was held in Moscow at the Space Museum. They hold it among the young space researchers once in two years since lately some countries such as the US, India and China have become more interested in space exploration. In general, nowadays the space projects are funded by private companies which have no intention to finance the unrealizable initiatives. Our project’s advantage is that it can be implemented for a little money.”

The constructors from Pivdenne construction department tried to develop the Moon takeoff and landing module half a century ago when the Soviet Union was trying to implement the program of a manned flight and landing on the Moon. The so-called “E-block” was successfully created and tested in the space but their partners of the Moscow construction department let them down since they were lagging with the creation of a carrier rocket meant for transporting the expedition to the Moon orbit. Since then several “E-blocks” stayed at Pivdenmash factory until they were cut for scrap metal in the 1990s. However, many years later those products are in much demand among the young ge-neration of the Ukrainian rocketeers.

“As a rule, the engine is based on the previous groundwork,” Andrii Kukhta, one of the winners, 23-year-old constructor, says. “However, the engine we have designed will have a new fuel feeding system based on the air pumps and not on the displacement principle as it was before. This project is economically profitable and the engine able to lift up to two tons can be created within a short period of time. It will cost 3.7 million dollars and 700,000 more for the assembly.”

The young scientists and constructors from “space” countries have presented 27 works at the contest. The first place was taken by the Moscow Aeronautical Institute with its project of the detection and recognition of the bacteria and microbes threatening the spacecrafts. Omsk State University took the second place for their work on an industrial orbital station where the purest materials can be produced. The Ukrainian constructors’ project received the highest appreciation, yet other promising rocket engines were presented at the contest. “Our project of an engine for a takeoff and landing module aims at the countries which have their own ambitious programs of the Moon exploration or flights to Mars,” says Shulha. These are the US, the EU, China and India. We are actively exchanging ideas with them. We hope that the project of the takeoff and landing module will be in demand in couple of years due to its very advantageous economic characteristics.” Shulha informed us that the Dnipropetrovsk rocketeers are gradually recovering after the economic crisis. Pivdenne construction department and Pivdenmash factory received an order to produce ten Zenith carrier rockets for the Sea Launch and Land Launch international projects. “It is quite a lot,” Shulha remarked.