Mikhail Pogosyan, Rector of MAI, talked about integration of aviation and space at INSPACE FORUM 2017
On March 3, the Second International Forum for commercial cosmonautics INSPACE FORUM 2017 was held at the Technopolis Congress Center (Moscow), and Mikhail Pogosyan, Rector of MAI, took part in the discussion. MAI projects and ideas were presented at the exhibition, and the visitors were really interested in the two-stage reusable transport outer space system, microsatellite, and other projects. It was the future of Russian commercial cosmonautics that was discussed at the forum, particularly at the ‘Aviation and space: how market players and startups will work together and stop rivalry’ section. It was this discussion that Mikhail Pogosyan took part in.
Sergey Zhukov, the moderator of the section and the co-manager of the AeroNet National Technological Initiative work group, stressed that Mikhail Pogosyan takes active part in the Initiative.
-Is the professional and technological integration of engine, avionics and other aviation and space area specialists possible? Can start-ups cover both fields? Will we be able to see an aircraft and rocket and missile design corporation? – Sergey Zhukov started the discussion. – I would first of all like to address Mr. Pogosyan, as he is an aviator who took part in space projects.
-Of course, each of the questions can be answered positively. Previous experience shows that the biggest aviation corporations have a rather powerful space segment, e.g. Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed, - said Mikhail Pogosyan. – Our Buran program was created as part of aviation industry ministry, but for modern combat aircraft, we use systems that are developed by ROSKOSMOS organizations. Mr. Pogosyan also gave an example of Aircraft Engines Faculty of MAI where there are rocket and aircraft design departments. Mikhail Pogosyan thinks that the creation of one aviation and space corporation is an organizational question.
It was solved at Boeing, Valeriy Aksamentov, MAI graduate, Corporation Space Program Director, told us about the creation of space shuttles, work at International Space Station, and other space projects. To the question of ‘why integrate the two areas’, Vladimir Terekhov, Head of Airbus Defence and Space Russia, said: ‘Exceptionally aviation or space organization will not survive on its own in the world’s constantly competing market’, and according to Mr. Terekhov with respect to start-ups, Airbus supports the idea and uses their creativity to develop new technologies.
There were a lot of questions asked at the forum and a lot of opinions expressed, but there was one aspect that everyone agreed with – Russia needs to get ahead at the global market.
