New Russian spaceship rumours - April 06, 2009
UPDATE: ""RSC Energia has been selected to lead the development of a next-generation Russian manned spacecraft," says the BBC.
Russia’s space agency is set to unveil plans for a replacement for the venerable Soyuz spacecraft today, according to media reports.
Costing 800 million rubles ($24 m) to design, a new six-seat craft to replace the three-seat Soyuz could take its first flight in 2018.
“Post-Soviet Russia has never had a massive project of this kind,” says Aleksey Krasnov, head of the Roscosmos human spaceflight programme (New Scientist).
The BBC says a number of different versions of the Prospective Piloted Transport System are envisaged, including a six-seat Earth-orbiter, a Moon-capable four-seater, and a cargo version.
“The lunar version of the ship would be capable of flying no less than 200 days in space when docked to a space station in orbit around the Moon,” says the BBC. “… The 200-day mission requirement probably provides some hint about Russian plans to eventually build a permanently occupied lunar outpost, similar to Nasa’s lunar base developed under its Constellation programme.”
Image: “Soyuz 4 Commander Vladimir Shatalov displays how Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 docked in Earth orbit on January 16, 1969.” / NASA
Comments
Russia redesigned its space program for $24 million. NASA cannot fathom the cost of hitting "1.5X" on its Apollo upgrade. One doubts $24 million covers NASA annual expense chits for coffee and donuts.
Russia can recover costs in one month by importing moon dust for sale to the Terran masses. 30 kg of moon dust, $(US)100/100 mg, $30 million.
Posted by: Uncle Al | April 6, 2009 04:36 PM
For $24 million and another 9 years of development, sounds like they have a plans for a R&D program, not a design for a spacecraft.
Posted by: Dennis | April 7, 2009 03:19 PM