Аннотация: The emblem of the "Nauka" module and symbols of this emblem. Principles and laws of the cosmic symbolism. An essay.
The emblem of the "Nauka" module and symbols of this emblem. Principles and laws of the cosmic symbolism. An essay.
The emblem of the "Nauka" module and its description are published (07/13/2021 10:30) for general acquaintance. (https://www.roscosmos.ru/31857/)
This emblem deserves attention because it is - to some extent - a reflection of the worldview and intellectual potential of the formal leaders of the Russial space industry.
1. Disadvantages of the emblem.
1.1. Note that the emblem symbolizes the "Nauka" module. We read the description: "The stars in the lower part symbolize the full composition of the Russial segment of the International Space Station: large stars - the Zarya functional cargo block, the Zvezda service module and the "Nauka" itself, which will be included in its composition on July 29, as well as small - research modules "Rassvet" ["Dawning"] and "Poisk" ["Search"]. " [unofficial translation]
So, the "Nauka" module has as symbols (1) an emblem, the description of which is provided to the public, and (2) a star on the emblem itself. The creators of the emblem announced the creation of one emblem, but in fact made up two ones...
1.2. "Multifunctional laboratory module "Nauka" is located against the background of the globe ...". In our opinion, the globe does not look convincing - the Western Hemisphere may not be found without strenuous searches. And what kind of a globe is this - without the Western Hemisphere?
1.3. "The ellipses of three crossed orbits (stylistic interpretation of the orbitals of the electrons of an atom) are additionally reminiscent of the" scientific "purpose of the module." Stylized images of cosmic orbits would be understandable, but what is the point of placing "Nauka" inside the orbitals of the electrons of the atom? This is even somewhat alarming.
2. The expediency of a separate emblem for the "Nauka" module.
The expediency of creating a separate emblem for the "Nauka" module raises doubts. You can just as well create separate emblems for individual elements of the ISS, for example for the ERA arm.
In our opinion, the limiting (the lower) level of detail (for creating emblems) is an independent space object - a spaceship, a space station, etc. Elements of an independent object may deserve a separate emblem - but only in exceptional cases (when there are exclusive, unusual achievements).
3. Essues (questions) of cosmic symbolism. How to design, to compose, to assemble the emblem of an artificial (man-made) space object?
Recall that, in our opinion, the limiting lower level of detail (for creating emblems) is an independent space object - a spacecraft, space station, etc.
Suppose that the "Nauka" module, the launch of which has been discussed for about 20 years, is recognized as deserving a separate emblem due to exclusive technical advances.
In this case, space stations (in their historical continuity) should become the subject of attention.
What would the emblem look like?
We offer the following elements of the emblem (of cosmic symbols).
3.1. The background of the emblem is the globe. The globe is not depicted separately and not without the Western Hemisphere.
The Earth, the Moon, the Sun are depicted (stylized,in the system) .
If the artist can achieve a good level of detail and stylization, then the Sun and the planets of the Solar system could be depicted.
3.2. Against the background of the Earth, the Moon, the Sun (or the Solar System), the "main object of the emblem" (in this example, the "Nauka" module) is depicted with the launch year (under the stylized image of the object).
(For the "Nauka" module it would be more honest to give two dates - the date of manufacture and the date of launch, but this is a secondary issue, to some extent related to the question of the appropriateness of a separate emblem for the "Nauka" module).
3.3. Around the circle of the emblem are stylized images of the most significant models of space stations (with the dates of their launch) - starting from the first satellite (as a prototype of space stations) and the year of its launch - 1957, and ending with the ISS (launch year 1998). The expediency of images of Skylab, Almaz, Salyut-7, MIR stations can be discussed.
3.4. As a topic for discussion, one could consider the issue of placing several profiles at the base of the emblem - the founders of cosmonautics, outstanding designers, politicians, whose theoretical works, technical achievements, political efforts ensured the creation of space stations. Apparently, on many emblems it would be appropriate to place the profiles of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Sergey Korolev. But it would also be quite natural to place the profiles of iconic figures from the USA and Western Europe.
Summation. These are (1) our assessments of the published emblem and its description, (2) our considerations about the advisability (none-advisability) of producing a separate emblem for the "Nauka" module, (3) some general considerations about space symbols and about the design of emblems for space objects (created by man).
At the same time, simultaneously, the emblem of the expedition appeared (the start is scheduled for December 8, 2021) with the participation of Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin and two space tourists from Japan. In this essay, we do not discuss this emblem, since it is not the emblem of a man-made space object. But it is the emblem of the project. It seems that a large modern ship (for sailing the seas and oceans) was named in honour of a huge mountain system ... One can only hope for a safe flight of an eagle in airless space ...
July 14, 2021 05:02
Translation from Russian into English: July 14, 2021 06:30.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Эмблема модуля "Наука" и её символика. Принципы и законы космической символики. Очерк".