Human and Space

 

 Does a human need to fly in space? Man launched animals and robots into outer space, flew himself, landed on the moon, and established himself in Earth orbit. what's next? Where is it really able to fly? What does the famous Russian scientist and astronomer Vladimir Surdin say about this?

Why was man needed in space in the last century?

There was no modern electronics on board in those days and only one person could control complex processes. People's first flights were purely experimental: it was important to check how one could live and work in space. By the late 1980s, it became clear that a person could live there for a maximum of one year. For one year, he receives a dose of radiation that prohibits all medical standards. Forty years have passed, and human-powered astronauts have remained the same as they were in Giger's time. The same space suit, the same missile. She froze. Forty more years will pass, but man will not breathe differently, and the situation in space will be no less aggressive.

That is, not people, but robots should fight this aggression?

This is what happens in the army. One man went somewhere in the bunker to manage, and the equipment moves to the battlefield. Unmanned aerial vehicles and sapper robots are already in full swing. It is as dangerous in space as it is in war. People demand money for their living facilities and medical treatment, but to no avail. Now there are no serious technical experiments, no scientific research, which will require an individual in space. The astronaut's breathing, his movements, his emission, his whole being on the plane will only deactivate this equipment.

Then why are people still in orbit?

Now they are only on the International Space Station. And this is more public policy than scientific or technical necessity. Neither we nor the Americans want to be left behind. In Soviet times, there was a long story with orbital stations, when the Americans felt they were left behind. We knew how a man could work in orbit for a year, but they didn't know and they decided to catch him. Build your own orbital station. In space medicine, they caught up. Now their universes have spent more time in orbit than we have. But so far no real result has come out of it.

But Earth needs space medicine, right?

Partially required. There are many professions in which the situation is similar to ISS. For example, a diver. But it has also been studied for a long time. Its forces were pushed back in the 1950s, and the Institute for Biomedical Problems was formed. We learned how to keep them alive in such difficult situations. But if pilots and submarines are in real business, they do nothing in global orbit. And the costs of caring for them are huge.

When did Russia stop developing astronauts, and where did it get stuck?

We're stuck on electronics. We had great technology in an age when there was no electronics - until 1965, when computers were the size of a car. Then the Americans had nothing to kill us. But as soon as astronauts started controlling through computers, we immediately. Just fell behind. In the 1970s, more than a hundred satellites orbited the USSR each year in the United States - 20-30. But their satellites worked for years, and they ended their lives faster than we did, often because they couldn't cope with the radiation situation in space. And now they can't stand it.

How quickly did man's space exploration end?

I think it was about twenty years from 1961 to 1981. Since then, there has been no real progress. If we compare 1981 and 2011, for the last thirty years they have been flying like this and doing the same thing, namely: putting their lives in orbit. Cosmatout spends 90% of its time maintaining the station: cleaning the pipes, monitoring the air. He is almost always trying to survive. He examines himself, analyzes. There is not much time left to do some scientific experiments.

And remove the person from there - nothing will change?

It will all be cheaper, and the result will be even more interesting. Experts in the Indian Ocean understood this long ago. In the 1960s, they only drove cars, but now they are almost gone. Instead of humans, robots go deeper. The Japanese do not fly in space, and Japanese cosmology is one of the first places today. Hindu - They have no plans to fly, and their satellites around the moon have done a great job. And we have the long zero result of the moon. Brazil is now launching its own satellite over foreign missiles. They understand: there was a stage, they lost it, Brazil was weak then, well, well, no one needs it today.

In your opinion, what is the most important achievement of the human astronaut era?

Of course, flying to the moon. Nothing beats him. He served science. For example, various lunar soil samples were taken, seismographs, and laser beam reflections were applied.

What prevents us from existing in space?

First of all, radiation. The second is weightlessness. When the body does not feel the load in the form of gravity, it dramatically weakens many of its functions, for example, the bones become more brittle because calcium is washed out. The only way to combat this is through training. For a long time at the station, the astronaut has to pedal the exercise bike and stretch the rubber bands. Constant noise: dozens of fans are running, stirring the air. Wild tightness. Hygiene problems. Of course, big salary and honors for life. But if the main thing for the cosmonaut personally is to endure everything, not to perish and return, then on Earth we must think about the effectiveness of such work. We pay for it.

If you do fly, then where, Asteroids?

Yes. This is the easiest way for a person to learn to fly far. Okay, if we do not want to permanently remove a person from space - and we, of course, do not want this - then let's take new steps. Asteroids are small bodies that hardly attract you. Therefore, the spacecraft flies up to the asteroid like a boat. Once - moored, stopped. I must fly further - I pushed off and flew. It's simple. This is not at all like flying to Mars ... It will be a new step. The Americans understand this, they have astronaut flights to asteroids planned.

And what is the practical point of this?

Nobody knows this yet. Because on the outside the asteroid is just a rock. But it can contain a lot of iron. But even if it were made of gold, it would be too expensive for the Earth to mine it there. But for production in space, the material of asteroids is very useful. But so far these are only dreams. First you need to create reliable electronics.

Why is there talk in Russia about manned flights to Mars, but not about flights to the Moon or asteroids?

Because Mars is a non-binding symbol. You can talk about him for years: "Someday we will fly" And the Chinese are silent about Mars, they set real goals for themselves. In general, space is a very convenient springboard for the study and development of the Earth. But there is nothing for human life in space. It's empty there. An artificial environment can be created, but only at the expense of the Earth.

The modern cultured man leaves harmful environments and leaves robots in his place. In my opinion, patriotism does not mean that “a person born in Russia sets foot on Mars,” but that engineers born in Russia and educated here would design, and competent workers would be able to build a high-class space robot, car, airplane.

What prevents us from being in space?

First, radiation. The second is weight loss. When the body does not feel the load in the form of gravity, it dramatically impairs many of its functions, for example, the bones become more fragile as calcium is depleted. The only way to deal with this is through training. For most of the time at the station, the astronaut has to pedal the exercise bike and stretch the rubber bands. Persistent noise: Dozens of fans are running, stirring the wind. Wild hard hygiene issues. Indeed, great salary and honor for life. But if the most important thing for Cameroon personally is to endure everything, not to perish and return, then we should think about the impact of such work on earth. We pay the price.

Do you want to fly in space as a child?

I knew from childhood that I could not fly, because my vestibular apparatus was weak. I realized this once I sank while swinging. Very few people are able to fly in space.

Isn't that annoying?

Absolutely not. Even if suddenly offered, I would refuse. I'm sorry I can't move my body back and forth, but I can do something useful on the ground. For example, give lectures, teach students. We can't imagine how much more comfortable our lives on earth would be if we invested in space projects instead of wasting money on military powers like crazy.

And if there were no restrictions - no finances, no aggressive space, no threat - where would you fly?

I'd like to go to Enchiladas on Saturn's moon. This is the only place where one can be convinced today of the existence of life or its absence in its sub-forms. This is the most interesting thing. Because with Mars it's more or less obvious, but there, in the distance, there are very foreign objects: satellites are covered with ice, and beneath the ice are giant oceans. Europa, for example, has more water than all the oceans on Earth.

These are great places to live. And the Mauritanian caves fascinated me, I think there's life. Mars is no different from Earth, the only thing is that there is almost no atmosphere. So, you have to look under the next layer. A cave is in such chaos: you are hidden by radiation, but the sunlight is still there. Cave and light are a very favorable combination. Well, and if there is no life, then there is probably nowhere but earth.

What do we need?

Now and in the near future, it is important to develop reliable space drones. First of all, for long-term and efficient work in low Earth orbit. Communications, navigation, intelligence, global predictions - today it's all based on satellite, it has a huge economic impact, but not so prestigious. Now any country, university and even radio amateur society can order a standard satellite. And today, the main goal of the cosmopolitan is the launch of inter-Pacific vehicles, which really do a respectable job. You need to pay attention to it.

Who is currently studying deep space? The Americans, the Europeans, the Japanese and we have not launched an intercontinental inquiry for a long time and are far behind. Unlike human-powered astronauts, the creation of robots makes it possible to accelerate our technical level. We need this to improve our technological culture.