Space Model - A New Russian Handbook on Spacecraft/Environment Interaction

In 2007 the scientists at Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics Moscow State University in close cooperation with experts from many space industry organizations, institutes of Russian Academy of Science and universities prepared and published a two-volume scientific handbook Space Model. Nearly 180 authors from 50 different organizations have taken part in creating the Space Model handbook. The total volume of the handbook amounts to more than 2000 pages. In the 1(st) volume the physical conditions in the outer space are described, some computational models are considered, various reference data for computing are presented. The 2(nd) volume is devoted to the analysis of the space environment effects on spacecraft materials and subsystems, and of ground-based and space testing methods. The influence of spacecraft and rocket on the near-Earth space is also discussed. The handbook is intended for specialists of space industry and students. The paper deals with the content of the handbook and the possibilities of using it in solving various problems.