65319409 Cost "Phobos Grunt " accounted for 5 billion rubles
The cost of the space mission "Phobos-Grunt " is about 5 billion rubles. On it informs RIA Novosti news agency quoted Director-General of the manufacturer of the device NPL Lavochkin Victor Hartova. "If you count, it turns out that every citizen of the Russian Federation for 10 years to pay 3 rubles a year, tax it and get payback mission. It's not so expensive and " – quoted Hartova agency. He also noted that the mission of this level of cost NASA and ESA as much – the order of 100-200 million euros. Hart said that the last time the domestic space itself launching a space mission to another planet in 1984 – then went immediately into space two devices "Vega-1 " and "Vega-2 ", which for two years, collected a large amount of information of Venus and Halley's comet. Chapter Lavochkin noted that the main task of the unit is to study the composition of Phobos. In particular, samples (100-200 grams) will return to Earth in a special capsule. Among other things this will help to test the hypothesis that the Martian satellite – is captured by the gravitational field of the planet's asteroid. In addition, the unit will study the magnetic field of Mars and methane in its atmosphere. The development of the spacecraft began in the 90s of last century. Initially, the probe should have been, among other things, electric rocket engines. Because of financial difficulties of the work was delayed and scheduled for launch in 2004 never took place. After this project has been completely revised. Once again delayed the launch in 2009 – then, it was reported that difficulties with design flaw station. More recently, "Grunt " passed the vibration test. Start the machine is scheduled for November 2011. "Phobos-Grunt " go to the Martian satellite with Chinese machine "Inho-1 ". On approach to Phobos, he will detach and go explore Mars.