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NIKA-T

By the late 1990's the Photon Design Bureau anticipates testing a much more capable microgravity spacecraft as a follow-on to the successful Photon program. Designated NIKA-T (Scientific Research Spacecraft - Technological), the new vehicle will retain the spherical reentry capsule of Photon but will possess significantly improved support systems. The 9 metric ton NIKA-T will be capable of returning payloads of up to 1,200 kg after missions of 3-4 months. Early NIKA-T concepts envisioned a maximum spacecraft diameter of 2.7 m and a length of 9.3 m, but more recent diagrams suggest that the length has been reduced slightly. Two solar arrays will generate 6 kW of which 4.5 kW will be available for the microgravity payload. A third array is part of the thermal control system's heat rejection loop (References 793-795, 799).

NIKA-T will be launched by the Zenit launch vehicle into sun-synchronous orbits of 300-500 km at inclinations of 96-98 degrees. To protect the fragile materials sciences samples, the landing velocity of the capsule will be reduced to only 5 m/s. At least two new materials science instruments are being developed for NIKA-T: the Zona 8 and the Konstanta 4 furnaces. The former will be capable of accepting sample cartridges of 40 mm diameter and 200 mm length, whereas the latter will possess a 85 mm diameter and 400 mm length capacity.

793. G. P. Anshakov, et al, "Earth Resources and Research Automated Spacecraft", Photon Design Bureau, 1989.

794. Spacecrafts for the Production Materials and Microgravity Experiments, Photon Design Bureau, GLAVKOSMOS, 1990.

795. Wide Experience in Developing of Space Technology, Photon Design Bureau, 1990.

796. "German Mirka Craft To Launch Aboard Russian Soyuz", Space Newss, 21 November - 4 December 1994, p.17.

797. C. Lardier, "La Capsule Mirka Volera Avec Photon en 1996, Air & Cosmos, 18 November 1994, p. 39.

798. J. M. Lanorovitz, "Soviets Book New Commercial Payloads, Grant Greater Access to Space Facilities", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 9 October 1989.

799. "The Nika-T", GLAVKOSMOS, 1989.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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