The goals are - beefing up the Russian segment's capability for meeting the research programme, providing the ISS with additional free space for the crew and the keeping of cargoes, efficient roll controlling of the orbital station.
"Simultaneously, Rosaviakosmos confirms its obligations before the foreign partners", Davidenko noted.
Currently, the ISS cluster is made up of the Zarya cargo module, Zvezda service module, Pirs docking port module and Soyuz TMA-2 manned ship joined with a regular Progress M spacetruck (Russian segment), Unity and Destiny modules, Quest air lock and a large multiple-link truss structure with unfolded solar cells (American segment).
The Russian ISS segment was earlier planned to have seven modules. Now, only three are expected to be launched - the multipurpose laboratory on the FGB-2 base, research, research power-supply modules. Construction of the FGB-2 module began in 1995 and is now nearing completion. The Khrunichev Space Centre has built it with its own money in case orbiting of the first Russian ISS segment (FGB-1 /Zarya/ standby) failed. If Russia does not launch the laboratory module in the next few years, completion of the Russian segment may be virtually impossible because the American Node 3 module (if the United States does launch it) will prevent access to the docking port.
Inclusion of FGB-2 in the Russian segment will allow performance of the Russian obligations and increase Russia's participation in the International Space Station. FGB-2 operation will also allow continuing work on the Federal Research Programme and use of the module on the commercial footing.
The module has the international certificate for use as part of the ISS during 15 years.
