NationStates Jolt Archive

Since it looks like I'm going to shipped off to Russia for two weeks this summer, I was browsing the CIA World Fact Book when I come across Russia's military.

And what do I stumble upon?

- "Russian Space Forces (VKS)"

Huh? Space Forces? As in outer space?

Sure enough, I was right. Russia actually has a branch of the military that deals wtih outer space.

This includes but is not limited to:

...bringing the information of warning the highest military-political management of the country about the rocket attack, the antimissile defense Moscow, creation, development, maintenance and control of the orbital group of the automatic spacecraft of military, dual, social and economic and scientific designation. The utilization of outer space and possibilities of space systems in entire peace is evaluated as one of the important factors of political, military and economic National Security.

The Russian Armed Forces were established on 7 May 1992, enabling the creation of VKS (Russian Space Forces) later that year on 10 August. Commander-in-Chief of the VKS is Col. Gen. Vladimir Ivanov, who was also CINC of the predecessor organization, Ministry of Defense Space Units (1982-1991), since 1989. The VKS is currently responsible for the operation of the Baikonur and Plesetsk Cosmodromes, the construction of the Svobodnyy Cosmodrome, the Mozhayskiy Military Space Engineering Academy, the Central Scientific Research Institute on Space Technology, and the Space Command, Control, and Tracking System (KIK), which includes the Main Center for Testing and Controlling Space Devices at Golitysno-2 near Moscow as well as other sites in the former Soviet Union. Portions of the KIK also support RKA's Flight Control Center (FCC or TsUP) at Kaliningrad near Moscow in conjunction with the Mir space station program. The former fleet of Space Event Support Ships operated by the former USSR Academy of Sciences has essentially been disbanded, although the Russian Ministry of Defense still operates some specialized range instrumentation ships capable of providing KIK services. In 1994, the VKS began testing a new mobile KIK unit and deploying new KIK sites to off set the loss of facilities outside the Russian Federation.

Source. (http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/russia/vks.htm)

Lets just hope that this doesn't conflict with Bush's amazing moon plan.

Assuming of course, the Russians can make it to the moon.

For some reason I have a hard time worrying about a Country with a smaller GDP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)) than Mexico.

I just knew that also the Russians discovered a Stargate!

Russia in space doesn't really come off as much of a threat for some reason. if anything, i support it. more power to the cosmonauts

For some reason I have a hard time worrying about a Country with a smaller GDP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)) than Mexico.

And adjusted in terms of purchasing power parity...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29

They are very dangerous.

If the US were to create a proper starship, all Russia would have to do to destroy it is to get one of their dozens Soyu and ram the spaceship with it.

For some reason I have a hard time worrying about a Country with a smaller GDP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)) than Mexico.

That's the US's fault...

GO RUSSIA!!!

Finally! What a better way to energize space commercialization and technological advancement than another arms race. Like it or not, the Cold War really pushed space exploration and innovation forward, and having another race begin for control of space resources would push it even further ahead. We need to expand off-planet, and it appears that the military will again have to lead the way.

Maybe it will energize people for science and technology just like during the 1950's and 1960's; it might be the thing we need to shake this country free of the mysticism, superstition and fear that dominate the policies of our President.

I just knew that also the Russians discovered a Stargate!

Now we just have to make sure they don't abuse the DHD and accidentely force one of our teams to their Gate.

Oh, and also make sure those creepy water entities don't take over their base prompting them to bring in Marina Sirtis to drag SG-1 to Russia.

Vetalia: The space race during the Cold War was nothing but political dick-waving. NASA and their Russian counterparts were funded properly for the shortest possible time to make a political point then when the public interest was lost the funding was cut and NASA was reduced to a bloated organization capable of absolutely jack. No, the Cold War was not good for any sort of space exploration whatsoever.

Vetalia: The space race during the Cold War was nothing but political dick-waving. NASA and their Russian counterparts were funded properly for the shortest possible time to make a political point then when the public interest was lost the funding was cut and NASA was reduced to a bloated organization capable of absolutely jack. No, the Cold War was not good for any sort of space exploration whatsoever.

You are wrong. Without the Cold War, we would not have had the Russian space stations, Skylab, or the space shuttle. Like it or not, the Cold war pushed space exploration from science fiction to science fact. Dick waving does have its uses.

Vetalia: The space race during the Cold War was nothing but political dick-waving. NASA and their Russian counterparts were funded properly for the shortest possible time to make a political point then when the public interest was lost the funding was cut and NASA was reduced to a bloated organization capable of absolutely jack. No, the Cold War was not good for any sort of space exploration whatsoever.

The Cold War got us to the moon , gave birth to the JPL (which works on everything from advanced composites to quantum computers), developed the cheapest form of space travel currently in existence, developed the means for space construction and greatly advanced satellite communications. It may have been political dick waving, but it brought space travel from the pages of Asimov or Bradbury to reality.

It was bloated, nobody can argue that, but it also brought us a lot in return. It also captivated people and made them realize how amazing and untapped space is, and that change in public opinion is sorely needed today when most people are too ignorant to realize how important expanding off-planet is.

I thought the Space troops were a relic from the cold war. If anyone is interested, there's an article on them at Globalsecurity.org

You are wrong. Without the Cold War, we would not have had the Russian space stations, Skylab, or the space shuttle. Like it or not, the Cold war pushed space exploration from science fiction to science fact. Dick waving does have its uses.
Skylab? I seem to recall the U.S. abandoning that project after only a few years. Mir, on the other hand...that was a good station.

But the space shuttle is one of the most poorly designed space exploration vehicles ever to actually be created. The military forced its wills upon NASA to
alter the design for the worse to allow for a larger cargo area so the satallites could be placed into orbit. It's no wonder we've had so many accidents with these shuttles...we really needed to design something much better.

The Cold War got us to the moon , gave birth to the JPL (which works on everything from advanced composites to quantum computers), developed the cheapest form of space travel currently in existence, developed the means for space construction and greatly advanced satellite communications. It may have been political dick waving, but it brought space travel from the pages of Asimov or Bradbury to reality.

It was bloated, nobody can argue that, but it also brought us a lot in return. It also captivated people and made them realize how amazing and untapped space is, and that change in public opinion is sorely needed today when most people are too ignorant to realize how important expanding off-planet is.
I'm not denying what it brought, Vetalia. I just don't see any reason to glorify NASA. The Jet Propulion Laboratory I have no problem with...but NASA just isn't a good organization for space exploration. We really need to either alter the way we're doing it or let the private industry explore space and start mining asteroids and all that junk.


I love space. I have since I grew up watching Star Trek. But I'm not about to fool myself into believing NASA is anything more than it is. Space exploration as it stands is a tool for politicians and it really needs to be much, much more than that.

Skylab? I seem to recall the U.S. abandoning that project after only a few years. Mir, on the other hand...that was a good station.

But the space shuttle is one of the most poorly designed space exploration vehicles ever to actually be created. The military forced its wills upon NASA to
alter the design for the worse to allow for a larger cargo area so the satallites could be placed into orbit. It's no wonder we've had so many accidents with these shuttles...we really needed to design something much better.


The space shuttle itself has had only one accident. Recall that Challenger exploded due to a damaged O-ring on the SRB.

The shuttle does have faults. That tiled Reentry insulation is a terrible idea. But the shuttle was never designed to be used for as long as it was. We were supposed to have a replacement by now. But the shuttle has proved its worth. Pete Conrad said "The Space Shuttle is worth one billion dollars a launch. I think that it is worth two billion dollars for what it does. I think the Shuttle is worth it for the work it does." And this is the dude that made 2 Gemini flights, went to the moon, and endured Skylab when it was damaged.

The space shuttle has proven its worth. But it won't be needed once the ISS is complete. That brings us to Orion. Now that's a good program. Unambitious, but good.

I'm not denying what it brought, Vetalia. I just don't see any reason to glorify NASA. The Jet Propulion Laboratory I have no problem with...but NASA just isn't a good organization for space exploration. We really need to either alter the way we're doing it or let the private industry explore space and start mining asteroids and all that junk.

Well, what NASA has done is it's tried to work out the basic complications in space travel that private industry can use to develop commercial uses for the technology. The primary problem with modern capitalism is that it is not well suited to pursuing this kind of speculative research; I highly doubt any company would be willing to invest tens of billions of dollars a year on something that would pay off 15, 20 or more years later.

I love space. I have since I grew up watching Star Trek. But I'm not about to fool myself into believing NASA is anything more than it is. Space exploration as it stands is a tool for politicians and it really needs to be much, much more than that.

NASA needs work, but it's one of the few tools we have at this point. It's also a bastion of scientific sanity and security in our current administration's war on science; without it, I personally think he could have done far more damage than he currently has.

Well, what NASA has done is it's tried to work out the basic complications in space travel that private industry can use to develop commercial uses for the technology. The primary problem with modern capitalism is that it is not well suited to pursuing this kind of speculative research; I highly doubt any company would be willing to invest tens of billions of dollars a year on something that would pay off 15, 20 or more years later.



NASA needs work, but it's one of the few tools we have at this point. It's also a bastion of scientific sanity and security in our current administration's war on science; without it, I personally think he could have done far more damage than he currently has.


Wasn't Bush that called for increased funding and a mandate of returning to th e moon/ going to Mars?

Wasn't Bush that called for increased funding and a mandate of returning to th e moon/ going to Mars?

One of the only good things he's done.

One of the only good things he's done.

Another Bush-basher. But alas, this thread is about science, not politics. Another day another time. :)

Wasn't Bush that called for increased funding and a mandate of returning to th e moon/ going to Mars?

Yes, and it's one of his few good decisions. At the same time, however, he has also stripped funds for other exploration projects and research, so it is a mixed bag because we impair our ability to explore other areas and enhance our knowledge of the solar system and the rest of the galaxy. But I have to give him credit where credit is due, especially since NASA has been neglected by previous administrations since the end of the Cold War; he really has helped revitalize the organization.

And in general I'm talking more about things like bans on stem cell research and silencing research and discussion about global warming than space travel.

Finally! What a better way to energize space commercialization and technological advancement than another arms race. Like it or not, the Cold War really pushed space exploration and innovation forward, and having another race begin for control of space resources would push it even further ahead. We need to expand off-planet, and it appears that the military will again have to lead the way.

Maybe it will energize people for science and technology just like during the 1950's and 1960's; it might be the thing we need to shake this country free of the mysticism, superstition and fear that dominate the policies of our President.
It makes me happy to see that I'm not the only person here to understand this fact.

Okay people, it's been 21 posts, where's the Soviet Russia joke?

On topic, though, I have to say it's amusing, but probably a waste of their resources. A richer country should be doing this, not them.