Nauka (ISS module)

In the 1990s, plans for the Russian segment of the ISS included several research modules that were intended to be adjacent to Zarya and Zvezda. In these earlier plans, the now-cancelled complex of the Universal Docking Module (UDM) and the two newly developed Russian Research Modules were to be attached to Zvezda's nadir port – the UDM was to be based on the Functional Cargo Block FGB-2. The FGB-2 was originally built as a backup for the original launch of the Zarya (FGB) module – FGB-2's construction had been halted at 70% completeness in the late 1990s.

However, the plans changed in the early 2000s. In August 2004, it was decided to build the Nauka ISS module based on the FGB-2.[3] During that time, there was an alternate rejected as a proposal for Nauka from RKK Energia, based on the cancelled Commercial Enterprise Module (entertainment and studio module), which was to be jointly funded by RKK Energia and SPACEHAB.[4]

Nauka training mockup at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in April 2012.

At the end of 2005, the European Space Agency (ESA) agreed with the Russians that the European Robotic Arm would be launched together with Nauka, mated on its surface for a later deployment in space. A spare elbow joint for the European Robotic Arm was already launched together with Rassvet.

In 2004, the Russian Federal Space Agency stated that Nauka should be ready for launch in 2007 on a Russian Proton rocket. However, the Nauka project was delayed further, first to 2008 and later to 2009. In November 2006, an ESA bulletin mentioned that the RSA was negotiating with the ISS partners to push back the prospective launch date to the end of 2008. In October 2011, it was reported that Nauka was expected to be launched at the end of 2013.[5] In May 2012, it was reported that the launch date had been pushed back to 2014.[6] The next planned launch date was April 2014, according to Vitaly Lopota, president of RKK Energia.[7]

On 25 October 2013, Parabolic Arc reported that Nauka was flawed and had failed acceptance testing at RKK Energia.[8] Found problems in the propulsion system included a leaking fueling valve that needed to be replaced and contamination, which would require a lengthy cleaning.[9] The module was to be returned to Khrunichev for repairs which would take another 12 to 18 months.[8] On 27 November 2013, it was reported that the Russian Space Agency had informed NASA that the launch had been postponed until at least 2015.[10]

In April 2014, it emerged that the target date for launch was postponed to February 2017: a new propulsion system needed to be manufactured, as the installed system had exceeded its warranty.[9] The leaking fuel valve had also damaged the module's exterior plumbing, necessitating the replacement of most of the plumbing.[11]

By November 2016, the tentative launch date had slipped to mid-2018.[12] aboard a Proton M rocket. In December 2017, it then slipped further with a projected launch date of March 2019, before a 20 December 2018 launch date was confirmed.

In August 2018, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin set a new launch date of November 2019.[13]. However, the propellant tanks were found to be contaminated with metallic dust in 2017, requiring repair and replacement work; a tentative new launch date in June 2020 was not met because the repair of the fuel tanks was initially unsuccessful; NPO Lavochkin was slated to produce new single-use fuel tanks based on the Fregat upper stage.[11] Production of this new fuel system, installation into Nauka (at NPO Energia), and additional testing would delay the launch to after 2020.[14]

On 17 October 2019, TASS released information about the successful repair of the original tanks, so Fregat-based tanks were not needed anymore. The launch date of Nauka in November 2020 was confirmed.[15] On 14 November 2019, the Russians informed the ESA that the launch of Nauka would be postponed again for at least three months. A launch date in 2021 means further work on certifying aging equipment.

On 23 January 2020, TASS reported that the roll out was postponed until the end of March to replace valves on Nauka's fuel tanks.[16] On 4 February 2020, Dmitry Rogozin said Nauka required more testing because the warranty had expired and testing could only be done in Moscow instead of Kazakhstan delaying launch to January 2021. Testing is on going and should be completed by May 2020.[17] On 21 February 2020, the construction of the Proton rocket was completed and the stages were shipped to Baikonur.[18] On 2 April 2020, TASS reported that repairs to the valves were complete but the module's systems had yet to be tested before shipment to Baikonur, which would move the roll out to the end of May 2020. Due to concerns over the coronavirus, work has been suspended until 15 April 2020, but systems testing will be performed by a skeleton crew until work resumes.[19]

Despite the coronavirus, work never stopped despite the delay and a limited workforce. Nauka was shipped to Energia on time for vacuum testing which will take a month. Roll out is now scheduled for the last week of June or the first week of July. Launch is now scheduled for the second quarter of 2021.[2]

Nauka will initially be used for experiments, docking and cargo. It will also serve as a crew work and rest area. Nauka will be equipped with full guidance and navigation control including engines and an attitude control system that can be used as a backup by the ISS. It will be docked onto the Zvezda module's nadir (Earth facing) docking port. Outfitting equipment launched in 2010 with the Rassvet (Mini-Research Module 1) on NASA's STS-132 will also be used for Nauka, the spare elbow joint for the European Robotic Arm (launched with Nauka), internal hardware and an experimental airlock will be positioned on one of the side-facing ports at the bottom of the module. The new module will contain crew quarters with life support equipment including atmospheric processing, galley and toilet.[5]

• Length: 13 metres (43 ft)
• Diameter: 4.11 metres (13.5 ft)
• Mass: 20,300 kilograms (44,800 lb)

• Scientific research on the ISS
• Russian Orbital Segment

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nauka module.

• Description of MLM (English)
• (Russian) – Photos of the incomplete FGB-2 at Khrunichev.ru
• Новости российского сегмента МКС (Russian) – November 2004 article discussing plans for MLM
• MLM (FGB-2) module of the ISS – RussianSpaceWeb on the history of the module
• MLM (Nauka) – from Gunter's Space Page