Lomonosov
One of the oldest problems in astronomy has been the inaccuracy of positional data for the hundreds of thousands of cataloged stars used in cosmological as well as geophysical research. Although star maps have improved considerably during the 20th Century, the inherent limitations of surface-based observations can be overcome from a high altitude space platform. Since 1989 the Sternberg State Astronomical Institute of Moscow University in conjunction with the Lavochkin NPO, the Vavilov State Optics Institute, and the All-Union Television Scientific Research Institute, has been promoting the Lomonosov astrometric project with its goal of creating an ultra-high precision star catalog (References 315-318).
The program's objectives include observations of all stars of 10th magnitude and brighter (~400,000), of selected stars between 10th and 13th magnitude (~8,000), of 30 of the brightest sources of extra-galactic radiation, and of 40 natural bodies of the solar system (major and minor planets). These observations would be carried out from an orbit about the Earth of 1,500 km by 120,000 km, yielding a 48-hour period of revolution. Actual measurements would be performed during a 32-hour period when the spacecraft is more than 80,000 km above the Earth. The principal data reception facility would be at Medvezhi Ozera in the Moscow region with reserve sites at Yevpatoriya and Ussurlysk.
Based loosely on the Venera-class spacecraft but with improvements developed for the new Spektr-class satellites, Lomonosov is envisioned as a 5.8 metric ton, 9 m tall vehicle witha 1,000 kg scientific payload. A complex solar array could produce up to 3 kW of electrical power. The primary instrument is a Cassegrain telescope with a 1 m diameter main mirror with an equivalent focal length of 50 m. The focal plane detector will be a CCD matrix of 800 x 800 elements. Originally planned for aunch in 1995-1996, this project appears to be searching for funds.
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