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'last 60 years' doesn't really mean much when it's been obvious in the past 2 decades or so that their capabilities have been deteriorating rapidly compared to
by dotnet00 4y ago
'last 60 years' doesn't really mean much when it's been obvious in the past 2 decades or so that their capabilities have been deteriorating rapidly compared to what they once were.
They haven't sent an interplanetary science mission in decades, their next-generation vehicles are constantly delayed or unreliable, Nauka was an entire 12 years behind schedule and so on.
Now on top of that, they're under heavy sanctions and are experiencing further brain drain from people fleeing conscription. It's clear that they're having to cut more and more corners to keep up. Plus, for Russia it has only been 30 years, the time under the USSR should not be considered comparable considering that much of their aerospace talent was in/from Ukraine (which is also why Ukraine punched above its weight in the space sector).
Russia also simply hasn't invested into maintaining the necessary pool of talent. We're starting to get to the point where the people who had significant experience from the soviet space program will be starting to become less and less available.
- thriftwy 4y ago> which is also why Ukraine punched above its weight in the space sector In 1991 it was expected that independent Ukraine, a 52 million strong country, will basically be the next Spain. What did it punch in the space sector in the last 30 years? They did indeed inherit a huge chunk of USSR industry and science and nothing went out of it.
- dotnet00 4y agoUkraine supplied engines for Vega's upper stage, co-developed the Antares and half of Firefly Aerospace's operations were in Ukraine office before the US forced them to divest from there. Considering that only a few months later Firefly would reach orbit, I think it reflects well on the capabilities Ukraine also must've had relative to their status as the poorest country in Europe.
- ianburrell 4y agoThey kept launching Tsyklon-2, Tsyklon-3, and Zenit-2 rockets. They developed Zenit-3 and Dnepr rockets from Soviet designs. The launches dropped off after 2014 since launch locations were Russian. Ukranian company builds the first stage for Antares rocket. They were working on Cyclone-4M rocket but war delayed if not canceled it.
- calgarymicro 4y ago> In 1991 it was expected that independent Ukraine, a 52 million strong country, will basically be the next Spain. This was expected by who? At independence, Ukraine was one of the poorest countries in Europe, and it remains that way today.
- thriftwy 4y agoThis was expected by Ukrainians. They were talking about being the new France. Ukraine fell behind even as far as their immediate neighbours are concerned. The information about their participation in space programs were enlightening, though.