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February 24, 2004

Russian Shuttle To Replace Aging Spacecraft

Soyuz To Give Way To Clipper By 2010

Russia is developing a manned space shuttle of a radically new design capable of carrying six cosmonauts, claims a high-ranking Russian space official. Boris Sotnikov, a deputy head of the Energia space corporation's R&D center, says the new spacecraft may replace Russia's current Soyuz space vehicles in 2010. According to Sotnikov, Clippers will be used for self-contained orbital flights lasting up to 10 days and will also serve as a base for various scientific experiments. In addition, the new spacecraft will have a capacity to carry as many as four "space tourists", three more than the Soyuz is able to haul.

What Choice Do They Have?

Russia and Japan, two key partners in the International Space Station, understand the need to delay the U.S. space shuttles' return to flight until next year, a top NASA official said on Friday. "They're not going to push us or rush us in that regard ... They are comfortable with where we're going," said Michael Kostelnik, the No. 2 official in NASA's shuttle and space station program. He pointed out one key reason why: "There is no other vehicle to complete assembly" of the space station.