• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

SBC

Not to be outdone by its longtime competitors (Photon Design Bureau and Lavochkin NPO), the Salyut Design Bureau of Proton launch vehicle and Mir space station fame proposed about 1991 no less than four new concepts for materials science research with spacecraft of 1.2 metric tons to more than 100 metric tons. However, to date none of these designs appear to have secured project funding.

At the least ambitious end of the spectrum is the Space Biotechnological Complex, "intended for experimental production of exclusively pure biologically active substances possessing unique properties (unthought of gaining in the terrestrial conditions) and its manufacturing process improvement" (Reference 807). The 1,200-kg spacecraft measures only 1.50 m in height and 1.45 m in diameter at the base. The core of the spacecraft is a recoverable module, similar to that introduced with Progress M spacecraft in 1990, surrounded by electrical and thermal control systems. Total recoverable payload mass is 100 kg with adiameter of 53 cm and a length of 100 cm. Designed for launch by a "light-weight launch vehicle," possibly the RS-18-derived Rokot (also created by the Salyut Design Bureau), the Space Biotechnological Complex may remain in its reference 400-km, 65 degree-inclination orbit for only five hours. A 1991 description of the project indicated that operations could start in 1993, although no serious effort was apparently underway by the end of 1994.