Moreover, this is a commercial project. True, the world's countries have never developed any orbital commercial telescope to date. Nonetheless, the project's organisers believe that their brainchild is both necessary and scientifically expedient; moreover, it apparently boasts an impressive commercial potential.

The world now has approximately 1,000 observatories, including 20 observatories replete with large telescopes (main-mirror diameter, over 4 meters), as well as a dozen of space observatories, including the really unique Hubble telescope.

Scientists have to wait in line for quite a while in order to gain access to each ground-based telescope with a mirror diameter of over one meter, paying a lot for their work, as well. The situation is rectified for short time periods after the commissioning of yet another ground-based or space observatory because top-priority programs arise from the very outset, "gobbling up" all the main observation time.

At the same time, any increase in the number of observatories is limited by financial considerations, taxpayers' money, for the most part. Unlike applied sciences, astronomy can never become cost-effective; nor can any direct economic feasibility studies be compiled. It goes without saying that many scientific agencies and education establishments, not to speak of individual scientists and amateur astronomers, can gain access to large ground-based and space observatories.

Moreover, the latter are already paying hard cash for their hobby in the form of taxes, etc. Among other things, hundreds of thousands of telescopes worth between several hundred dollars and many thousand dollars are being sold all over the world each year. The suggestion of Russian scientists to build an accessible space observatory can be perceived as a veritable attempt to link fundamental research with the interests of numerous amateur astronomers and their readiness to pay handsomely for their hobby.

This project has the following main specific feature - the projected space observatory is to be placed into a geostationary orbit.

Despite the fact that geostationary orbits boast considerable advantages, not a single satellite replete with an optical telescope has so far been inserted into such orbits. The world's largest Hubble space telescope now flies along a low near-earth orbit; consequently, experts are usually having trouble directing and stabilising this telescope; moreover, data-relay problems should not be overlooked here.

At the same time, specific observation data will be relayed in the real-time mode to all visible parts of the world, i.e. most of the planet's regions, and received by individual systems similar to satellite-television networks. The observation program will be compiled on the basis of scientific tasks and requests by scientific agencies, education establishments and amateurs. The parties to this project will therefore join the space club of orbital optical research. Meanwhile those unable to obtain space-observatory data can surf the Internet for it instead.

Plans are in place to use the Yamal spacecraft, which was developed by the Energia space-rocket corporation, as a basic optical-observatory platform. The 800-kg Yamal spacecraft boasts all the required systems for ensuring 12-year orbital flights. Its solar panels generate enough power for just about any payload and electric rocket engines for positioning geostationary satellites.

The Yamal can lift off atop Soyuz rockets, which also fly in ISS (International Space Station) crews, as well as Progress space trucks. Soyuz rockets should also be fitted with Frigate boosters for this purpose. The Yamal platform can accommodate at least 400 kg of payload, i.e. an optical telescope with a 60-80-centimeter main-mirror diameter. Several electromagnetic observation instruments operating in the ultraviolet and infrared bands can be placed inside its focal plane.

A space observatory replete with a 60-80-centimeter mirror telescope is dwarfed by those huge ground telescopes with a 10-meter mirror diameter. However, lack of an atmosphere and negative factors, such as image vibration and scattered light, enables even this small telescope to attain impressive resolution to the tune of 0.15 arc second.

It should be mentioned for comparison's sake that the best ground telescopes, which are located in specially chosen areas, have a resolution of 0.2-1 arc second; such resolving power is achieved with the help of special corrective systems. As a rule, ground telescopes have a resolution of just 1-3 arc seconds.

As distinct from space telescopes, ground observatories can't be used all year round. The world's leading observatories, which are located on the Hawaii islands and in Chile, can be used on 300 clear nights each year. Meanwhile bright nights account for about 33 percent of the grand total; consequently, it becomes impossible to study weak objects. For their own part, orbital telescopes can operate without respite.

Any space observatory can also be fitted with a solar-observation device, thus continuing to operate even when its main telescope is temporarily blinded by the Sun. This time period, which totals 6-8 hours each day, can be used to watch solar and corona activity, which, among other things, pre-determines the radiation situation in near space.

And now a few words about specific project costs. This project will be implemented by the Russian space industry, with Russian scientific agencies also taking part in it. This reservation is quite appropriate, if we heed Russian pricing-policy specifics, as well as the fact that Russian space projects are much cheaper than those in other countries of the world.

We'd now like to mention some statistics, which highlight investment volumes for the purpose of developing national or international space observatories. These expenses are a far cry from specific monies being required to make and commission a wide-access space observatory.

Among other things, it took an estimated $824.8 million to develop an 8-meter mirror and an orbital platform (spacecraft) for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) advanced observatory, which is to replace the Hubble telescope (in 2002 prices). This sum total, which includes all the required ground tests, doesn't cover launch costs.

An estimated $65 million were spent on building and launching the relatively small (50-centimeter and 22-centimeter mirrors) ultraviolet GALEX ultraviolet telescope, which lifted off not long ago atop a Pegasus rocket that, in turn, soared aloft from a cargo plane.

Canada's MOST tiny satellite/observatory, which was launched by Russia's converted Rokot ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) this past July, costs only $6 million (2002 estimate), also boasting a rather limited potential.

The Yamal platform costs 275 million roubles (in 2002 prices). The relevant RFP (Request for Proposal) implies that only the spacecraft's guidance, control and stabilisation systems, as well as its radio, must be upgraded. This modernisation project is estimated at 75 million roubles. It will take approximately 40 million roubles to upgrade the ground-based flight-control centre. The projected space observatory needs a telescope, focal instruments and a solar-observation instrument.

The relevant experience of developing such scientific equipment implies that it costs about 90 million roubles. Therefore one can safely say that the entire project will require some 480 million roubles (approximately $15 million). Add to this another 500 million roubles ($16 million) for orbiting this equipment aboard the Soyuz-Frigate system. On the whole, this seems pretty cheap by international standards, matching the cost of a medium-sized ground observatory replete with all required infrastructure.

Nonetheless, one can safely say that Russia now lacks a financial source for subsidising this project. The federal space program already envisages a number of topical scientific projects, which can't be implemented for lack of money. Among other things, Russia has to spend additional monies for maintaining the ISS after the February 1, 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster.

The situation is unlikely to change in the years to come because it is linked with that Russian economic situation, which still leaves a lot to be desired. Nor should one expect one or several national agencies, as well as the European Space Agency, to provide financial support for the project. Consequently, all the concerned scientific agencies, colleges, universities, astronomers' societies and planetary societies, as well as enthusiasts in different countries of the world, should establish some kind of a club for financing this project on a shareholding basis.

The proposed space observatory, whose main specifications are inferior to those of the unique, albeit expensive and hard-to-service Hubble telescope, can, nonetheless, be considered its nearest equivalent in terms of the working spectral range. This observatory will occupy a befitting place among available orbital telescopes, obtaining more diverse and accessible data for all interested professionals and amateurs alike. This will be one of its main advantages and merits.

Considering Hubble-telescope data, as well as specific programs, due to be implemented within the next few years of this mission, as well as long-term global research avenues, one can single out several important fields, which would perceive the new space observatory's scientific data as quite interesting.

Their list includes the evolution of the Universe between the Big Bang and until this stage, the structure of the Universe, studying the so-called invisible "dark substance", "black holes" and other so far exotic phenomena. Furthermore, it's intended to analyse the Solar System's formation and subsequent evolution, those of Planet Earth, as well as this planet's differences from other planets. And, finally, plans are in place to search for signs of life in other planetary systems.

These research avenues tally with specific objectives of the Istoki (Sources) international program, which is called on to provide an insight into mankind's origin and to search for extraterrestrial civilisations, as well. This is perceived as the most important issue by the human race.

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