From CNN: Russia to build new spacecraft:

The new craft will be able to carry at least six cosmonauts and have a reusable crew section, Russian Aerospace Agency director Yuri Koptev said at a news conference. Soyuz carries three cosmonauts and isn't reusable.

The spacecraft, designed by the RKK Energiya company, will have a takeoff weight of 12-14 metric tons (13-15 tons) -- about twice as much as the Soyuz, which was developed in the late 1960s.

Energiya has also proposed developing a new booster rocket based on its Soyuz booster to carry the new spacecraft to orbit.

Koptev wouldn't say how long it could take to build the spacecraft or how much it would cost, but said that Energiya had done a lot of work on the new vehicle already.

I'll forget about the political implications for the moment (a new cold-war style space race?) and just be happy that things seem to be moving again in this area. I'll say one thing though: I'm sure that this and this had a little something to do with it. :)

Categories: science
Posted by diego on February 17 2004 at 9:47 PM