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The RadioAstron ground-space interferometer provides the highest angular resolution achieved now in astronomy. The detection of interferometric fringes from quasars with this angular resolution on baselines of 100–200 thousand km suggests the brightness temperatures which exceed the Compton limit by two orders of magnitude. Polarimetric measurements on ground-space baselines have revealed fine structure testifying to recollimation shocks on scales of 100–250 μas and a helical magnetic field near the base of radio emission in BL Lacertae. Substructure within a the scattering disk of pulsar emission on interferometer baselines (from 60000 to 250000 km) was discovered. This substructure is produced by action of the interstellar interferometer with an effective baseline of about 1 AU and the effective angular resolution of better than 1 μas. Diameters of scattering disks were measured for several pulsars, and distances to diffusing screens were evaluated. The ground-space observations of sources of the maser radiation in lines of water and hydroxyl have shown that the maser sources in star-forming regions remain unresolved on baselines, which considerably exceed the Earth diameter. These very compact and bright features with angular sizes of about 20–60 μas correspond to linear sizes of about 5–10 million km (several solar diameters).

We present the first experimental results on the observation of optical transients, gamma-ray bursts, relativistic electrons, and electromagnetic waves obtained during the experiment with the RELEC complex of scientific equipment on the Vernov satellite.

The program of physical studies on the Vernov satellite launched on July 8, 2014 into a polar (640 × 830 km) solar-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.4° is presented. We described the complex of scientific equipment on this satellite in detail, including multidirectional gamma-ray detectors, electron spectrometers, red and ultra-violet detectors, and wave probes. The experiment on the Vernov satellite is mainly aimed at a comprehensive study of the processes of generation of transient phenomena in the optical and gamma-ray ranges in the Earth’s atmosphere (such as high-altitude breakdown on runaway relativistic electrons), the study of the action on the atmosphere of electrons precipitated from the radiation belts, and low- and high-frequency electromagnetic waves of both space and atmospheric origin.

The main goal of the Vernov mission is the study of magnetospheric relativistic electron precipitation and its possible influence on the upper atmosphere as well as the observation of Transient Luminous Events (TLE) and Terrestrial Gamma Flashes (TGF) across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The RELEC (Relativistic Electrons) instrument complex onboard the Vernov spacecraft includes two identical X- and gamma-ray detectors of high temporal resolution and sensitivity (DRGE-1 and DRGE-2), three axis position detectors for high-energy electrons and protons (DRGE-3), a UV TLE imager (MTEL), a UV detector (DUV), a low frequency analyser (LFA), a radio frequency analyser (RFA), and AN electronics module responsible for control and data collection (BE). The RELEC mission conducts the following experiments: – simultaneous observations of high-energy electron and proton fluxes (within the energy range of ∼0.1–10.0 MeV) and low-frequency (∼0.1–10 kHz) electromagnetic wave field intensity variations with high temporal resolution (∼1 ms); – fine time structure (∼1 μs) measurements of transient atmospheric events in UV, X- and gamma rays with an optical imaging capability with a resolution of ∼1 km in wide field of view (FOV); – measurements of electron flux pitch-angle distributions in dynamical ranges from ∼0.1 up to 105 part/cm2/s; – monitoring of charged and neutral background particles in different areas of near-Earth space.

Goals and tasks for “ExoMars-2018” mission and share of responsibilities between European partners and p]Russia are presented. The main design requirements for a Descent Module (DM) that define its design concept as well as design specific features are given. The structure of the descent module, thermal control, means for securing systems interaction onboard the spacecraft “ExoMars-2018”, and radio communication with the descent module are examined.

This paper is dedicated to the life and creative career of Georgii N. Babakin, the outstanding designer of native robotic space complexes for fundamental scientific studies of the Moon, Venus, and Mars, and Chief Designer of the S.A. Lavochkin machine building enterprise.

The necessity for developing an operational meteorological space system for monitoring the Arctic region of the Earth is shown. A design is suggested for the spacecraft of the system making maximal use of the results obtained in the framework of “ELEKTRO” R&D activities. The “NAVIGATOR” base module is used as a service platform.

Support means of the Spektr-R spacecraft flight and features of the Mission Control Center operation and spacecraft control are considered. Software for scheduling and preparing sessions of controlling and simulating for the spacecraft operation are considered. The problems of ballistic navigation support of the spacecraft flight are presented. Ground spacecraft control segment and software for analyzing and imaging telemetric information are considered.

The paper considers the design, features, and characteristics of the Russian space-ground very long baseline radio interferometer (VLBRI) RadioAstron.

This paper gives a concise overview of the robotic spacecraft that were the backbone of the priority position of the Soviet Union in space research in the 20th century. A brief description is given of the current and future spacecraft designed by NPO Lavochkin for fundamental studies of the Moon, planets, and small bodies of the Solar System, and for research in the field of astrophysics.

The article presencts the concept of creating advanced space complexes for studying the Moon. There are some proposals for the evolutional improvement of space devices in the circumlunar space and on the Moon’s surface.

A new phase of Venus research has started in Russia; the Federal Space Program includes the Venera-D design with the launch of the spacecraft scheduled for 2016. The mission comprises an orbiter, a descent vehicle, and balloon probes. The balloon probes will be placed at different altitudes in the cloud layer and under the clouds, where they are intended to last for a long time in the atmosphere of Venus. The successful implementation of the design will allow solving of quite a number of scientific tasks for comparative planetology.

Increases in solar protons and variations in the electron and proton fluxes from the outer radiation belt are studied based on the GLONASS satellite measurements (the circular orbit at an altitude of ∼20000 km with an inclination of ∼65°) performed in December 2006. Indications in the channels, registered protons with energies of Ep = 3–70 MeV and electrons with energies of Ee > 0.04 and >0.8 MeV, are analyzed. The data on electrons with Ee = 0.8–1.2 MeV, measured on the Express-A3 geostationary satellite, are also presented. Before the strong magnetic storm of December 14 (|Dst|max = 146 nT), the maximum of the outer belt electrons with the energy >0.7 MeV was observed at L ∼ 4.5. After the storm, the fluxes of these electrons increased by more than an order of magnitude as compared to the prestorm level, and the maximum of a “new” belt shifted to L 3 MeV fill only high-latitude legs of the GLONASS orbit. During the strong magnetic storm of December 15, the boundary of proton penetration into the magnetosphere almost merged with the orbital maximum of the proton radiation belt.

The Russian Academy of Sciences and Federal Space Agency, together with the participation of many international organizations, worked toward the launch of the RadioAstron orbiting space observatory with its onboard 10-m reflector radio telescope from the Baikonur cosmodrome on July 18, 2011. Together with some of the largest ground-based radio telescopes and a set of stations for tracking, collecting, and reducing the data obtained, this space radio telescope forms a multi-antenna ground-space radio interferometer with extremely long baselines, making it possible for the first time to study various objects in the Universe with angular resolutions a million times better than is possible with the human eye. The project is targeted at systematic studies of compact radio-emitting sources and their dynamics. Objects to be studied include supermassive black holes, accretion disks, and relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei, stellar-mass black holes, neutron stars and hypothetical quark stars, regions of formation of stars and planetary systems in our and other galaxies, interplanetary and interstellar plasma, and the gravitational field of the Earth. The results of ground-based and inflight tests of the space radio telescope carried out in both autonomous and ground-space interferometric regimes are reported. The derived characteristics are in agreement with the main requirements of the project. The astrophysical science program has begun., 54 pages, 11 figures; published by Astronomicheskij Zhurnal (in Russian) and Astronomy Reports (in English)