Russia successfully launched the "Science" experimental module of the International Space Station
Science and Technology Daily, Moscow, July 21 (Reporter Dong Yingbi) On the 21st, the Russian "Proton-M" carrier rocket ignited from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan and sent the Russian multifunctional "Science" experimental module it carried To the International Space Station.
It is expected that on July 29, the "Science" experimental module will be docked with the International Space Station and will become the heaviest Russian module of the International Space Station.
The “Science” experimental module was built in 1995 and weighs 20,350 kg. It was the ground backup of the first module module of the International Space Station, the “Dawn”. It was transformed into a flight module in 2004 and scheduled to be launched in 2007. The construction was completed as scheduled, and the launch time was postponed every year.
It is reported that the "Science" experimental cabin is equipped with a differential pressure lock chamber used to extend scientific equipment outside the International Space Station, as well as a European robot arm, and a system for recovering oxygen from water and a system for recovering water from urine. There are experimental stations and resting beds for astronauts.
Dmitry Rogozin, general manager of the Russian National Aerospace Corporation, said that the multi-functional "Science" experimental module will not be a full member of the International Space Station until the next 6-8 months. For this reason, the astronauts need to work outside the capsule Second-rate.
At present, there are 5 Russian cabins on the International Space Station, namely the "Dawn" functional cargo bay (launched in 1998), the "Xingchen" service module (launched in 2000), and the docking module "Dock" (launched in 2001). And the "Explorer" (launched in 2009) and the "Dawn" (launched in 2010) small research modules.