 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Clipper Spacecraft Constructor To Be Announced In February 2006
Moscow (SPX) Jan 18, 2006 The winner of a tender to build a new-generation spacecraft will be announced on February 18, the Russian Space Agency said Tuesday, reports RIA Novosti. Three Russian companies - the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, the Khrunichev Space Center and the Molniya Research and Production Association - have submitted bids to build the Clipper re-usable space craft. Agency spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko said: "The results of a closed tender will be announced in the first half of February." According to RIA Novosti, agency head Anatoly Perminov had said earlier that Russia was also hoping to attract other countries to the Clipper construction project, and the European Space Agency (ESA) expressed interest in the six-man craft, which should eventually designed to replace the workhorse of the Russian space program, the Soyuz carrier rocket. Although ESA head Jean-Jacques Dordain said last summer that the ESA Council at ministerial level had not decided to participate directly in the Clipper project, it had agreed to allocate 300 million euros over the next three years to the development of advanced technologies for new transport spacecraft. The most likely recipient is thought to be the Clipper. Dordain said Europe should participate in at least one international project to avoid falling behind in space exploration. "I will do everything I can to encourage broad support for the [Clipper] project in Europe," he said. Related Links
Manned Spaceflight Plans For India To The ISS And Beyond
Mumbai, India (SPX) Jan 16, 2006India is at a crossroads in its national space development program. It must decide if it will invest more of its small budget on manned space flight - which could prove very lucrative, but would require certain pre-conditions beyond its present direct control- or on continued robotic and scientific spacecraft that principally benefit India's national development goals. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
