Spectators Get Glimpse Of New Russian Space Vehicle
By Bryan K. Scott
June 18th, 2005
On June 15th, spectators were treated to a surprise at the Paris Air
Show. Russia's Rosaviakosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency)
presented a full-scale mock up of a new space vehicle, The Kliper
spaceliner, unveiled to the Russian media in December of last
year. The vehicle was just one part of the Russian display this
year until June 19th.
The
Kliper (pronounced "clipper") was designed to replace the veteran
workhorse of the Russian space vehicles, the Soyuz space capsule. The
Kliper was created by Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, the
creators of all of Russia's space vehicles for approximately the last
50 years.
The vehicle is
very similar to NASA's CEV or Crew Exploration Vehicle. It is
designed to carry six people (two cosmonaut pilots and four other
cosmonauts/space tourists) and a three quarter ton payload into space.
Future missions for the spacecraft are for the International Space
Station, the moon, as well as to Mars, according to Russian officials.
The vehicle can
be launched from either European or Russian spaceports. The
launch vehicle for the Kliper is the Omega rocket-a modified version of
the Soyuz carrier rocket. The Kliper should be In full service by
2010-2011. Russia has made plans for four such vehicles to be
constructed.
The Kliper will be on display until June 19th at the Paris Air Show.
Bryan
Scott is a part time writer/columnist who comes to The Fedora
Chronicles from Oklahoma. He’s a big fan of sci-fi in general. Also
enjoys baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and soccer… As well as
anything dealing with computers and NASA. He’s the security supervisor
at a auto parts manufacturing plant. He's married with THREE beautiful
little girls…
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