William Atkins
Friday, 13 November 2009 03:03
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
The Russian Federal Space Agency has launched and delivered a new research module called “Poisk” to the International Space Station (ISS).
The new Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2), also called Poisk (Russian for "Explore"), was launched on November 10, 2009, at 2:22 p.m. GMT, from launch pad 1 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
During launch, it was inside a Progress M-MRM2 spacecraft and powered into space from a Soyuz-U rocket.
The Poisk module is just over 13 feet in length, about 8 feet wide, and weighs (on Earth) about 8,000 pounds (around 4 tons).
The inside volume is about 380 cubic feet. During its launch, it held about 2,200 pounds of cargo (when weighed on Earth), including Russian Orland spacesuits and life support materials.
Pictures of the Poisk module are found at the FlightGlobal.com website “
Mini Research Module 2 in final assembly.”
Roscosmos, the abbreviation for the Russian Federal Space Agency, has reported that the new Poisk module will be used for scientific research and experiments onboard the orbiting space station.
Poisk, pronounced “PAW'-eesk," was built by the Russian company S.P. Korolev RSC Energia.
Page two continues with more Russian news from the Space Station.
