My OperaAmazing space vehicle
Saturday, December 10, 2005 7:11:15 AM
It is about time to start thinking seriously in developing a next-generation space vehicle. Clipper is the proposal we've got from Russia, who has a great record of reliability of their space transportation systems since Gagarin's first manned flight, more than forty years ago. And is good to see that Europe is endorsing the project, which means a lot, particularly in terms of financial feasibility.
Soyuz is great, and she could certainly bare several more years of service, but is unsuitable for the kind of space trips that are to be pursued in the (relatively near) future (the Moon, Mars and beyond). The Shuttle has proven to be dead, and is not designed for these voyages anyway. The United States' NASA is also immersed in the design or a new vehicle with similar purposes, the CEV.
Soyuz is great, and she could certainly bare several more years of service, but is unsuitable for the kind of space trips that are to be pursued in the (relatively near) future (the Moon, Mars and beyond). The Shuttle has proven to be dead, and is not designed for these voyages anyway. The United States' NASA is also immersed in the design or a new vehicle with similar purposes, the CEV.
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