Spacecraft "Spectrum-UV" will be the third of a series of large orbital telescopes in the post-Soviet space. This telescope, known also under the name of the WSO-UV (World Space Ultraviolet Observatory), is designed to "look" into the sky in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic light. The same effect that protects all life on the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet light, prevents the observations from the surface of different events and phenomena occurring in the depths of space, making it inaccessible to people is quite wide and informative site ultraviolet light. And for the implementation of the observations in the ultraviolet range in the 1970-ies the first telescopes were sent outside the earth's atmosphere, on the earth orbit.

Scientific capabilities of a space telescope "Spectrum-UV" will be many to exceed the ability of all currently available scientific astronomical instruments. Sensors telescope "Spectrum-UV" will be on poryadki exceed sensitivity to ultraviolet sensor Hubble space telescope, and a new space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, which is the official successor to the Hubble telescope, will not be able to make observations in ultraviolet light, it will be equipped with sensors only for infrared range. That is why it will be difficult to overestimate the scientific value of the telescope "Spectrum-UV" by which scientists can learn a lot about the processes of formation of new stars, planetary systems, cosmology, physical and chemical development interstellar and intergalactic space.

Space ship "Spectrum-UV" will be telescope T-170M, with a mirror diameter of 1.7 m. The telescope T-170M is more compact, lighter and more sophisticated version of its predecessor, the telescope T-170, which for many reasons it never had a chance to go into orbit. Ultraviolet light is captured in the optical system of the telescope, will be directed in three different spectrometer with maximum sensitivity at different wavelengths, from 102 to 310 nanometers. This will register the radiation from cosmic plasma, heated to temperatures of several thousand degrees and determine the radiation spectral components of molecules of basic chemicals and compounds, such as H2, CO, and OH. The information obtained will enable the international astronomical community to explore the formation of new galaxies, stars and other celestial objects of different scales. In addition, with the aid of a telescope "Spectrum-UV" it will be possible to analyze the chemical composition of atmospheres far exoplanets and protoplanetary disks.



During the first two years of operation of the telescope "Spectrum-UV 40% of his working time will be given to the implementation of its main program defined by the scientific Committee of the project. Still half-time telescope will be given and shared between astronomical research institutions of the countries taking part in the project "Spectrum-UV". The remaining 10 percent will be allocated for the implementation of the open programme, which will be the most interesting research, selected by the scientific Committee from all clause, countries not taking part in the project.

Since 2011 the project "Spectrum-UV, besides Russian scientists involved scientists from Spain, Germany and Ukraine. The mission control center, the means of obtaining and processing of scientific information will be deployed in Russia, and Spain. Probably some ground mission "Spectrum-UV can be deployed in Kazakhstan, as a contribution to the implementation of the project. In may 2012 was determined the preliminary date of launching of the telescope "Spectrum-UV", which is scheduled for 2015-2016.

In 2012, the Russian space Agency "ROSKOSMOS" issued the order for production of the rocket-carrier "proton-M/breeze-M", which should be completed in 2014, which will be put into orbit a spacecraft "Spectrum-UV with a telescope on Board. The company "NPO Lavochkin" in 2012, published the first press-release on the mission "Spectrum-UV, and October 17, representatives of NGOs Lavochkin announced the end of the testing phase antenna systems on a special test specimen. Currently the formation of a one test sample is to be used for carrying out structural tests, tests by static loads, vibration and loads during transport. In addition to NPO Lavochkin ends the production of test samples for testing and refinement of management system spacecraft and the cooling system of the telescope.

After years of delay, lurched forward the construction of the telescope T-170M. In parallel with the Institute of astronomy INASAN are working on prototype spectrometers and related space radio electronics, which should be ready to send to the NPO Lavochkin in 2013.