The Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has issued a tender on development of a system intended for instant search for holes in the body of ISS caused by micrometeorites and methods of estimating the proofness and extent of wear of the station’s modules. The maximum amount of this contract is 1.08 billion rubles, RIA Novosti reports.
The bids must be submitted not later than January 22nd 2013. The bid opening procedure will be performed on January 31st. The amount of security for contract implementation is 864,5 million rubles.
The winner of the tender will be assessing the extent of wear of the Russian segment of ISS. This refers to the fatigue of the station’s airframe and its residual strength. Following the results of these studies the forecast on operation of ISS during the period until 2028 should be elaborated.
At present it is expected that ISS created in 1998 will be working until 2020. However, the representatives of Roscosmos and NASA have stated that the operating life of ISS may be extended until 2025-2028.
In addition, the methods of estimating the protection of the station’s modules of Russian segment against micrometeorites should be developed in the network of this contract. The summary report must comprise databases on condition of the pressurized shells, bumper shields, illuminators and metal airframe of the Russian segment.
Roscosmos will also order “Risk-Udar” system intended for hazard assessment and instant search for holes in the body of ISS caused by micrometeorites. This system should detect holes to a tolerance of 20 cm in obstruction-free compartments and to a tolerance of 60 cm in the encumbered compartments of the service module.
The contractor will have to create a 3D-map of the scientific payloads located inside the Russian segment. It will be used for maintenance and coordination of scientific and technological research and experiments carried out inside and outside the station.
ISS was created in 1998, when the Russian functional cargo block “Zarya” docked with the American module “Unity”. A number of modules have been docked with them later. The first crew visited the station in 2000.