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Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details. ACTS or CSTS (Advanced Crew Transportation System and Crew Space Transportation System respectively) is a crew transportation system which is jointly studied by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Roskosmos) with the objective to design a spacecraft for LEO operations such as servicing the International Space Station but also capable of exploration of the Moon and beyond. This study was conceived as a basic strategic plan to keep a viable European human space program alive because NASA officials have announced that NASA's Vision for Space Exploration Orion spacecraft will be developed without participation of international partners. According to press releases and ESA official Manuel Valls, JAXA could join the cooperation as well [1]. ACTS is currently in an initial study phase, which shall last for 18 monhts from September 2006 to spring 2008. The outcome of the study is planned to be presented to the ESA full memberstate conference in 2008 [2]. Image File history File links Circle-question. ...
The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 17 member states. ...
The Russian Federal Space Agency, formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RKA) (in Russian: Российское авиационно-космическое аген...
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...
ISS redirects here. ...
Image from NASA site Two planned configurations for a return to the moon, heavy lift (left) and crew (right) The Vision for Space Exploration is the United States space policy announced on January 14, 2004 by President George W. Bush. ...
Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit Orion is a manned spacecraft currently under development by the United States. ...
The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japans aerospace agency. ...
Background
ACTS as answer to the Orion
 Promotional picture for NASA's Vision for Space Exploration In 2004 George W. Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration, a program that includes the United States return to the Moon by 2020 and a manned mission to Mars by 2030. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ...
Image from NASA site Two planned configurations for a return to the moon, heavy lift (left) and crew (right) The Vision for Space Exploration is the United States space policy announced on January 14, 2004 by President George W. Bush. ...
For these purposes the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Orion, is currently being developed. ESA officials have inquired whether they could be part of this program for exploration [3], however received a negative response. Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA's General Director stated with regard to this rejection by NASA: "I have been told by Mike Griffin and Marburger that the CEV is not for international cooperation. But if Europe is not involved in the next-generation transportation systems, we will stay forever a second-class partner."[1] In this statement Griffin speaks of a general cooperation, not a cooperation in developing the Orion, the actual vehicle to be used for Moon missions, which will be an entirely American built spacecraft. Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit Orion is a manned spacecraft currently under development by the United States. ...
This article is about the European Space Agency. ...
Jean-Jacques Dordain is the current European Space Agencys Director General since 2003. ...
Because the Orion will not be developed or used in cooperation with ESA, ESA faces a major obstacle for continuation of its manned spaceflight program with the end of the Space Shuttle program by 2010 and the contemplated end of the International Space Station program by 2015/2016. NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ...
ISS redirects here. ...
Cooperation with Russia Since 2004, ESA had been in talks with Roskosmos on cooperation for the development of Kliper, the Russian successor project to the Soyuz spacecraft which has been in service for nearly 40 years. While ESA's management was enthusiastic about this cooperation, ESA memberstates turned down funding for a design and collaboration study in December 2005, mainly because certain memberstates felt that ESA would just be a minor industrial contributor to the program, while Russia would actually develop and design the Kliper spacecraft. Image File history File links Kliper mochup at le-beourget Credits: ESA / CNES / Copyright © 2005 ESA This image was originally published within the ESA multimedia gallery (on their web site). ...
Image File history File links Kliper mochup at le-beourget Credits: ESA / CNES / Copyright © 2005 ESA This image was originally published within the ESA multimedia gallery (on their web site). ...
The Paris Air Show (Salon International de lAéronautique et de lEspace, Paris-Le Bourget) is an international trade fair for the aerospace business. ...
This article is about the European Space Agency. ...
The Russian Federal Space Agency, formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RKA) (Федеральное коÑмичеÑкое агентÑтво in Russian: РоÑÑийÑкое авиационно-коÑмичеÑкое агентÑтво) is the government agency responsible for Russias space science program and general aerospace research. ...
Russian media coverage of Kliper spacecraft - Russias Channel One TV network. ...
Soyuz is Russian for Union. Depending on the context, Soyuz may also refer to either of the following: The originally Soviet (now Russian) Soyuz program of human spaceflight The Soyuz spacecraft, used in that program The Soyuz launch vehicle that is used to launch those and other spacecraft This is...
This article is about the European Space Agency. ...
After the December 2005 rejection of Kliper by ESA, Jean-Jacques Dordain emphasized that a collaboration with Russia on a new spacecraft could still be decided in June 2006. On June 13, 2006 the press reported that the winged Kliper project has been replaced by a study to develop a capsule under the Advanced Crew Transportation System program that ESA is funding.[4] This rejection by ESA notwithstanding, Kliper was a Russian program that might still be funded entirely by Roskosmos - although this is unlikely if Russia and Europe really go forward with ACTS together. Reasons for going with ACTS include that it gives Europe the possibility to be a full partner in a Russian-European program, because the modular structure (see below) allows for a division of design responsibilities between the partners (for instance, Russia could be in charge of the overall design of the reentry capsule, while ESA works on the habitation module etc.) Jean-Jacques Dordain is the current European Space Agencys Director General since 2003. ...
Russian media coverage of Kliper spacecraft - Russias Channel One TV network. ...
Russian media coverage of Kliper spacecraft - Russias Channel One TV network. ...
About €15 million were pledged for the ACTS program at ESA's regular meeting on June 21 and June 22, 2006 [citations needed]. Further funding of the study was to have been asked for at the next ESA meeting in July.[1] Both partners, Russia and ESA, will bear their own costs in the first 2 years of the program. "We are now entering a phase of working with the Russians where we will establish a preliminary design of the vehicle, establish all the legal framework for the operation, delineate the work share for the parties, and outline the aspects of development," said Manuel Valls, head of Policy and Plans Department in ESA's Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity, and Exploration Program.[1]
On July 4, 2006 Russian media reported that the head of the Russian Space Agency Anatoly Perminov had met with Jean-Jacques Dordain to discuss the ACTS proposal; however, no agreement was signed between the Russians and Europeans as a result.[5] The Russian Federal Space Agency, formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RKA) (in Russian: Российское авиационно-космическое аген...
Jean-Jacques Dordain is the current European Space Agencys Director General since 2003. ...
On July 18, 2006 Anatoly Perminov, head of Roskosmos, announced that the Russian tender for the Kliper spacecraft had been cancelled. [6] It was noted that the ACTS proposal had gained more support among ESA memberstates than the Kliper design. The Russian Federal Space Agency, formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RKA) (Федеральное коÑмичеÑкое агентÑтво in Russian: РоÑÑийÑкое авиационно-коÑмичеÑкое агентÑтво) is the government agency responsible for Russias space science program and general aerospace research. ...
Russian media coverage of Kliper spacecraft - Russias Channel One TV network. ...
Farnborough Air Show Jean-Jacques Dordain announced on the Farnborough Air show on July 25, 2006 that the collaborative study together with Roskosmos on the ACTS spacecraft would begin in September 2006 and end early in 2008: So in 18 months' time we will have got a proposal to make to our ministers for the development of such a vehicle. [7] It was confirmed that ESA's financial contribution to this study would be 15 million EUR, shared among seven ESA member states. The work areas of the study are: Jean-Jacques Dordain is the current European Space Agencys Director General since 2003. ...
The Russian Federal Space Agency, formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RKA) (Федеральное коÑмичеÑкое агентÑтво in Russian: РоÑÑийÑкое авиационно-коÑмичеÑкое агентÑтво) is the government agency responsible for Russias space science program and general aerospace research. ...
- preliminary system design examining the vehicle's configuration
- detailed subsystem design including a docking mechanism
- development of co-operation mechanisms and agreements, as well as workshare decisions for a full-scale development
- manned lunar flights
Overall Design
Three module design [8]
 The Soyuz three module design will be followed by ACTS as well ACTS [citations needed], designed for exploration missions, will feature as re-entry vehicle an improved, Soyuz-type capsule, having increased resources for extended missions duration, improved thermal protection system for reentry into Earth's atmosphere with a higher velocity than just from LEO, new interplanetary navigation systems and possibly an increased size to accommodate a larger crew of 4 members. It will also include a habitation module (like the orbital module on the Soyuz) large enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and resources, as well as to provide the necessary living space to the crew for the longer duration missions. A service module, including attitude control thrusters, oxygen tanks, TCS, Motion Control Systems data handling and distribution, command system, telemetry and feedback the main propulsion system and other subsystems, including solar arrays, electrical power control system, etc. [4] Image File history File links AST-01-056. ...
Image File history File links AST-01-056. ...
Soyuz is Russian for Union. Depending on the context, Soyuz may also refer to either of the following: The originally Soviet (now Russian) Soyuz program of human spaceflight The Soyuz spacecraft, used in that program The Soyuz launch vehicle that is used to launch those and other spacecraft This is...
Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ...
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...
In the context of spacecraft, attitude control is control of the angular position and rotation of the spacecraft, either relative to the object that it is orbiting, or relative to the celestial sphere. ...
TCS may stand for: Tactical cryptologic system Taiwanese Cultural Society Taking Children Seriously (tcs. ...
The three-part design of ACTS is similar to the one used on Soyuz. The advantages of using such a system instead of the two-part Orion structure (only a crew module that is also used as re-entry module and one service module), is that the re-entry module can be stripped down to a minimum size and weight, as it is not necessary for the crew to stay in the re-entry module for the whole mission duration but the crew can use the habitation module as well. Because the habitation module is discarded before reentry into Earth's atmosphere, it can be made out of light-weight material that does not need to withstand the forces of a re-entry. This approach reduces overall weight of the spacecraft.
The re-entry module Soyuz uses a bell-shaped re-entry module that has space for three cosmonauts. Its weight is approximately 2.8 metric tons. The ACTS study will have to decide whether they are using the same bell-shaped form for the 4 crew re-entry module or which other configuration the re-entry module will take (cone-shaped such as the Apollo or the Orion spacecraft). What is clear today is that the re-entry module will be a capsule and not a lifting body [citations needed], which reduces complexity of the system. While the Orion crew module is currently designed to weigh over 9 metric tons, the ACTS re-entry capsule will probably weigh much less, as living space for the whole spacecraft is divided into the re-entry module and habitation module. Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft approaching the International Space Station Soyuz (Russian: Союз, pronounced sah-YOUS, meaning union) is a series of spacecraft designed by Sergey Korolyov for the Soviet Unions space program. ...
Apollo Spacecraft: Command Module, Service Module, Lunar Module. ...
Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit Orion is a manned spacecraft currently under development by the United States. ...
 ATV - heritage to be used for ACTS Image File history File linksMetadata Atv. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Atv. ...
The habitation module For spaceflights beyond LEO, it is necessary to accommodate certain equipment and appliances (toilet etc.) in a spacecraft. This habitation module could be derived from hardware that has already been developed by ESA, that is the Automated Transfer Vehicle or the Columbus Orbital Laboratory [citations needed]. A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...
ISS ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle (ESA) The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is a European Space Agency spacecraft designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload experiments and the like. ...
Computer generated model of Columbus on the station Columbus is a science laboratory designed to be a part of the International Space Station. ...
The service module Power and propulsion needs to be provided by another module. Heritage for this module may come from both the Soyuz spacecraft or the Automated Transfer Vehicle. In light of a mission beyond LEO this module will however be by far the largest of the three modules the spacecraft consists of [citations needed]. ISS ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle (ESA) The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is a European Space Agency spacecraft designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload experiments and the like. ...
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...
 Existing launchers such as Ariane 5 or Proton or Soyuz rockets are contemplated to be used for ACTS Image File history File links Rocket_comparison. ...
Image File history File links Rocket_comparison. ...
Ariane 5 mock-up Ariane 5 is a European expendable launch system designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to Low Earth orbit. ...
The Proton (ПротоÌн) rocket (formal designation: UR-500, also known as D-1/ D-1e or SL-12/SL-13) is a Russian unmanned space vehicle design, first launched in 1965. ...
Soyuz rocket on launch pad. ...
Missions beyond LEO To understand the ACTS mission parameters it is first important to describe what limitations ACTS will have to deal with. Manuel Valls, head of Policy and Plans Department in ESA's Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity, and Exploration Program noted on the question of available launch vehicles for the ACTS spacecraft that "although nothing at this stage is definitive, [...] both the Russians and we think that it is only prudent, and most efficient and effective, to go with 2 stages and not one. The 1-stage has been done already with Saturn V and Apollo. To do that now would entail the development of quite a new launcher and that will take time and money like hell, if I may say. Going with two stages is far more effective [...] because we could use – and this is our intention – existing launch vehicles or launch vehicles with minimal development."[1] This means that ACTS will have a tight mass budget, as only launchers with a maximum payload capacity in the class of Ariane 5, Proton or Angara will be available for a launch. With two stages and LEO docking that means that ACTS together with an Earth Departure Stage will not be able to weigh more than about 45 to 50 metric tons in LEO (note however that this is just for the lunar spacecraft, a lunar lander is not integrated in this calculation). Ariane 5 mock-up Ariane 5 is a European expendable launch system designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to Low Earth orbit. ...
The Proton (ПротоÌн) rocket (formal designation: UR-500, also known as D-1/ D-1e or SL-12/SL-13) is a Russian unmanned space vehicle design, first launched in 1965. ...
The Angara rocket is a planned space-launch vehicle, designed to place heavy payloads into orbit. ...
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...
The Earth Departure Stage (EDS) is the name of the upper stage of the heavy-lift Ares V (CaLV) that will place the Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM) into low Earth orbit for Project Constellation. ...
An ESA presentation [8] from June 13, 2006 however presents a lunar orbital mission of the ACTS spacecraft with 3 launches, of which two are propulsion modules to propel the spacecraft to a trans-lunar trajectory. Such a scenario, while more complicated than the 2-stage approach mentioned by Manuel Valls, gives more leeway in terms of the ACTS' mass budget.
EADS concepts for adapting the Ariane 5 ECB for lunar exploration could increase Ariane 5 LEO performance to 27 tonnes [citations needed]. These performance adaptions would entail the use of a composite solid rocket casing, and upgrades to the Vulcaine Mark III and Vinci (ECSB) engines.
No information presently available with regard to the ACTS outlines a clear lunar mission scenario.
Launch Sites Both the ESA's launch site at French Guiana and the Russian spaceports at Baikonour and Plesetsk are discussed to be utilized for ACTS [citations needed]. The Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakh: Байқоңыр ғарыш айлағы, Bayqoñır ÄŸarış aylağı; Russian: КоÑмодром Байконур, Kosmodrom Baykonur), also called Tyuratam, is the worlds oldest and largest working space launch facility. ...
Cyclone-3 rocket launching Meteor-3 satellite (Plesetsk, August 15, 1991) Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located about 800 km north of Moscow and south of Arkhangelsk (coordinates vary in different sources, but 62°08′ N 41°01′ E seems plausible). ...
See also Russian media coverage of Kliper spacecraft - Russias Channel One TV network. ...
Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft approaching the International Space Station Soyuz (Russian: Союз, pronounced sah-YOUS, meaning union) is a series of spacecraft designed by Sergey Korolyov for the Soviet Unions space program. ...
Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit Orion is a manned spacecraft currently under development by the United States. ...
References - ^ a b c d e http://www.planetary.org/news/2006/0628_Europe_and_Russia_Join_Forces_to_Study.html
- ^ http://www.sron.nl/files/PB/downloads/ESA%20Exploration.pdf[citations needed]
- ^ http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/0,1518,443901,00.html
- ^ a b Kliper dropped for lunar capsule
- ^ http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/07/04/russianasaiss.shtml
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/07/18/Navigation/177/207935/Farnborough+Russia's+Federal+Space+Agency+cancels+manned+spacecraft.html
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/07/25/Navigation/177/208008/Farnborough+Crew+transport+work+to+start.html
- ^ a b http://www.belspo.be/belspo/eisc/pdf/docu2p_eisc/DeWinne.pdf
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