IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMALL SPACE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE INNOVATIVE UNIVERSITY EVOLUTION

Abstract

Innovative development of the national economy, that has been declared in the Conception of long-term social and economic development of the Russian Federation, has become especially important in the modern situation characterized by geopolitical challenges and threats. Russia is looking for new possibilities to strengthen its competitive position in the global economy. One of the most promising innovative development areas is space science and technologies. Space technologies of manned flights developed in Russia have always been exceptionally competitive. However, in the last decade the onset of new aerospace industries in such countries as China, India or the USA has jeopardized the Russian Federation position of the world leader in this field. In this context such new trends in space technologies as the design, manufacture and launching of small-size space vehicles may be interesting both in terms of advanced engineering and technological solutions and in terms of commercial application of innovative low-cost space products. There are already several very positive practical examples of this engineering field development that involves the adoption of the so-called three-spiral theory describing the interaction between the state, science and business. One of such examples is the Southwest State University that has accumulated an extensive experience of long-time cooperation with Roscosmos (Russian Space Agency) core engineering businesses in the area of small space vehicle design and manufacture. This is a unique experience that has no parallels in Russia or abroad. In terms of economics such integration presents a good object for the investigation of system interaction between national authorities, businesses, educational and scientific institutions. It also makes a sound basis for the successful dissemination of the know-how.