BSV
The third Salyut Design Bureau proposal is based on a derivative of the class of spacecraft which serve as the heavy add-on modules for the Mir space station, e.g., Kvant 2 and Kristall. Named the Biotechnologiya Space Vehicle, this proposed materials science spacecraft has a launch mass of 21 metric tons of which 8-9 metric tons represent the payload. The maximum diameter is 4.3 m and the length is approximately 12 m. Two solar arrays generate up to 3 kW average power and 10 kW for peak loads. Microgravity conditions of 104 g are possible for year-long missions at altitudes of 350-450 km (References 810-811).
A unique aspect of the Biotechnologiya Space Vehicle is its ability to return materials in small recoverable modules periodically throughout the mission. Ballistic capsules (5 or more) with a capacity of 120 kg and a volume of 120 liters are loaded separately, then ejected from the main spacecraft for the return to Earth. Since the basic spacecraft systems have already been developed and tested in space, the preparation period for this specialized vehicle may be only 2-3 years.
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