Sea Based Support
TRACKING AND OTHER GROUND SUPPORT
COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS
1981-1987
SEA-BASED SUPPORT
A TASS announcement describing a book giving a detailed description of the ships of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, published in 1980, (12) claimed that the flotilla had more than 10 vessels operating in various parts of the world ocean. The need for them was explained by the fact that space vehicles are within direct visibility from ground stations on Soviet territory for about 9 hours only out of 24. (13)
Additional details, taken from the 1980 book, follow.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
The architectural appearance of the ships is determined primarily by their antenna systems. The 25m dish reflector on the Kosmonavt Yuri Gagarin or the 18m white spheres of the radomes on the Kosmonavt Vladimir Komarov attract attention to themselves immediately, creating a lasting impression of the ship. A closer inspection reveals many other antennas of differing designs and sizes. No ship of any other class has such an abundance of antennas.
The antennas and radio apparatus with which the expedition laboratories are equipped impose conditions which are specific for ships of this class. The scientific assignments of expedition voyages dictate the requirements for the sea-going qualities of the ships.
Good sea-going qualities are necessary in order that the scientific tasks can be fulfilled while sailing in any part of the world oceans at any time of year and in any weather. Stations are determined by satellite trajectories without regard for the weather. A ship may not be able to choose its course to minimize the effects of waves since the course will be determined by communications sessions, the heading of the spacecraft's trajectory and the viewing angles of the ship's antennas. It must also be able to be controlled well at low speeds and while drifting—typical conditions, if not at anchor, when conducting communications sessions with spacecraft. A ship's stability and rolling characteristics are critical design factors. The radio engineering and electronic equipment, which are the basis of such vessels' equipment, have weight distributions which are disadvantageous to stability. The antenna systems, the heaviest elements, are located high above decks and superstructure, whereas the lighter electronic equipment is below decks. This raises the ship's center of mass toward the metacenter (14) to a considerable degree. Stability difficulties also arise from the large surface areas of the antenna dishes and radomes, particularly when the wind is from abeam. Communication sessions therefore are not held in high winds and antennas are locked, pointed vertically in the "travel" position when the ships are under way.
Rolling, due to wave-action, creates considerable interference for space communication sessions. Heavy rolling leads to an increase in the loads on the antenna stabilization system and lowers their aiming accuracy. A secondary effect is on the fitness for work of the ship's personnel. Reduction of rolling is therefore a major consideration in design and various types of stabilizer are employed.
Hull-strength reinforcement is necessary at points where massive antennas and other heavy pieces of equipment are installed and multiple highly-directional antennas on the same ship call for increased hull-rigidity. Ships' hulls are reinforced to withstand ice when sailing in sub-polar latitudes or in middle latitudes during the winter months.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Space service ships must be highly independent—able to remain at sea for long periods, performing their mission, without having to put into port to replenish stocks of fuel, fresh water and provisions. A high degree of independence permits uninterrupted communication sessions and avoids wastage of time during passage from the working location to port. By the very nature of their missions, working locations are usually remote from port, particularly Soviet home ports, and the significant loss of operational time that would be occasioned without a high degree of independence could necessitate an increase in the number of vessels needed to maintain the necessary support coverage.
Independent sailing is limited by the stocks of fresh water and provisions. Ships are equipped with large refrigerated storerooms for provisions and independence is increased through use of distillation units for water supply. Ships of the Belyayev class can sail for 90 days without replenishing their provisions and carry a 30-day fresh water supply. The Kosmonavt Yuri Gagarin can sail independently for 130 days. Replenishment of its fresh water supply is necessary after 60 days. Its two distillation units produce 40,000 litres (10,567 U.S. gallons) of water per day. The drinking water is chemically treated to make the composition and taste quality as good as that of Moscow's water supply.
PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTICS
The first part of the appendix to this chapter comments on the various antennas and other details that can be seen in aerial photographs taken of the ships on their passages through the English Channel. Numerical data provided in the book is presented in table 33.
The Morzhovets, Borovichi and Nevel are described as having the same characteristics as the Kegostrov.
The book also goes into great detail about crew amenities—one and two bed cabins, both with showers, suites for the ship's command staff and the expedition leader, some with conference rooms attached, recreation rooms, a library with reading room, a 250-seat cinema, a gymnasium with swimming pool in addition to two open pools on deck, wardrooms and messes, and a medical unit comprising an operating theatre, sick bay, dispensary, X-ray room, and physical therapy and dental offices are listed for the Kosmonavt Yuri Gagarin.
GENERAL LOCATIONS OF THE SPACE SUPPORT FLEET
An analysis of the locations of Soviet tracking ships during piloted missions was published in 1973.(l5) It showed that during most of the Soyuz flights up to that time, one of the three larger vessels was anchored off Sable Island, Nova Scotia (about 44.5°N, 59.5°W) where four successive orbits, which do not cross the territory of the Soviet Union, pass within easy direct communication range. The location is still in use today. On revolutions with ascending nodes between lOO°W and 140°W, it is possible for observers in the United Kingdom to listen to the cosmonauts' voice transmissions through the Sable Island ship for one or two minutes as Mir rises above their horizon. There then follows a break in communication of some three to four minutes as the orbital station passes beyond the radio horizon of the ship until it reaches the zone of communication with a Soviet ground station or another ship stationed near Gibraltar. The cosmonauts are still in contact with the FCC as their orbital station passes out of the area of reception of transmissions for U.K. monitoring stations.
Another location connected with piloted flights is in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, to monitor retrofire prior to re-entry and landing in Kazakhstan, U.S.S.R. The first ignition of the Proton booster's fourth stage, used to take deep space flight probes, geosynchronous and semi-synchronous payloads out of LEO occurs at the first ascending node, which is situated over the equator close to 10°W, and can be monitored from this location. When a deep space flight occurs and probes lose velocity as they climb away from the Earth, the ground-track makes a U-turn over the South Atlantic and heads westward over Central America. Hence, there are often tracking ships deployed along this South Atlantic track which otherwise would be difficult to observe from Soviet territory. A large support ship in a Cuban port or stationed in the Caribbean provides additional coverage during the critical early phases of a deep space mission.
South Atlantic and Caribbean ships, together with vessels stationed in the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, also fill in large gaps in communications between the orbital space stations, such as Salyut and Mir, and the FCC.
Another location east of the Philippines is occasionally seen in pictures showing the map of the world display in the FCC (16) and was once depicted on the 32 kopek stamp issued to commemorate the Soyuz 30 mission in 1978. None of the ships of the Academy of Sciences has ever been identified in such a location and the implication is that the vessel is a naval missile tracking ship from the Pacific fleet. The world map display indicates the radio horizons of the seven tracking stations located on Soviet territory and of the three larger and four medium sized vessels of the space support fleet if their locations happen to lie in the vicinity of the projected ground tracks. The locations of the four smaller vessels are rarely incorporated in these displays.
A more detailed study, for the period covered by this report, is given in the second part of the appendix to this chapter.
THE MARSHAL NEDELIN AND OTHER NAVAL MISSILE RANGE SHIPS
A new naval space and missile tracking ship made its appearance in 1984. The Marshal Nedelin was completed at the Admiralty Yard, Leningrad, in 1983 and made its maiden voyage directly from the Baltic to the port of Vladivostok, the headquarters of the Pacific Ocean Fleet. A sister ship is reported to be under construction. (17)
Its dimensions are given as 214 meters in length and 27.1 meters beam with a draft of 7.7 meters. Its displacement is quoted as 25,000 tonnes. Its twin gas turbine engines, each providing 27,000 h.p., give it a speed of 20 knots. The ship's complement totals 500 and it carries 2-4 helicopters.
It is fitted with a variety of space and missile associated electronic systems. For space associated communications it is equipped with one "Ship Globe" amidships. For space tracking there are three "Quad Wedge," one "End Tray" (balloons), one "Quad Leaf and four smaller antennas. Three "Palm Frond" antennas are used for navigation and one "Fly Screen" antenna is devoted to helicopter control. (18) Photographs of the Marshal Nedelin have been published in Jane's Fighting Ships, (19) the DOD's "Soviet Military Power," which reported that it was currently operating in the West Pacific, (20) and, in color, in "The Soviet Space Challenge." (21)
A few details have emerged about the older and smaller naval missile range ships. The Sutchan has been re-named Spassk. Sakhalin and Sibir have three radomes fore and aft and all carry a flight deck and one helicopter. Chukotka is flush-decked, whereas the other three of the class have a forward well-deck. One ship, unspecified, has been refitted and now has a new funnel, mast and electronics. (22)
Chumikan was in the task force on both occasions for the recoveries of the small spaceplane from the Indian Ocean. On the first occasion the Kosmonavt Georgiy Dobrovolskiy was present 28 and on the second occasion the Kosmonavt Pavel Belyayev was on hand.
References
1. SOVIET SPACE PROGRAMS: 1981-87, PILOTED SPACE ACTIVITIES, LAUNCH VEHICLES, LAUNCH SITES, AND TRACKING SUPPORT PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF Hon. ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, Chairman, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, UNITED STATES SENATE. Part 1, MAY 1988, Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 1988
8. Tamkovich, G. M. Zemlya i Vselennaya, March-April 1983, pp. 46-52.
9. Ibid.
10. Tamkovich, G. Aviatsiya i Kosmonavtika, June 1983, pp 44-45
11. Kosmonavtika Entsiklopediya, op. cit., p. 261.
12. Bezborodov, V., and A. Zhakov- Suda kosmicheskoy sluzhby. Sudostroyeniye, Leningrad, 1980.
13. TASS, 1015 GMT, November 20, 1980.
14. The point through which the resultant buoyancy force always acts. The equilibrium of a floating body is stable so long as the center of mass lies below the metacenter.
15. Oberg, James. Soviet Tracking from the Sea. Flight International, November 15, 1973, pp. 828-829.
16. Spaceflight, v. 22, 1980, p. 53; Time, October 5, 1987, p. 68.
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