Manned spaceship design unveiled

[Rick]

The first official image of a Russian-European manned spacecraft has been unveiled.

It is designed to replace the Soyuz vehicle currently in use by Russia and will allow Europe to participate directly in crew transportation.

The reusable ship was conceived to carry four people towards the Moon, rivalling the US Ares/Orion system.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7519723.stm

[Rick]

 RSC Energia has been selected to lead the development of a next-generation Russian manned spacecraft.

The company was selected by the federal space agency, Roscosmos, on Monday.

The new ship will be capable of taking six cosmonauts to low-Earth orbit, and a variant would also be required to reach the Moon.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7987399.stm

[Rick]

Europe has taken the first step towards building its own manned spaceship.

The European Space Agency has asked industry to work out the requirements of the craft and its likely cost.

Known as the Advanced Re-Entry Vehicle, it would be developed in phases - first as an unmanned vessel to carry cargo, and then as an astronaut crew ship.

At the moment, Europe has no independent capability to transport humans into space and must hitch rides on American or Russian systems.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8139347.stm

[Rick]

The European Space Agency (ESA) is to build a space capsule capable of bringing cargoes down safely from orbit as well as taking them up, according to reports. A development of the current "Jules Verne" unmanned cargo module used to supply the International Space Station, the planned Advanced Reentry Vehicle (ARV) could lead in turn to an ESA manned launch capability.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/10/esa_space_lander/

[Rick]

Europe continues to develop the technologies needed to bring spacecraft safely back to the Earth's surface.

The European Space Agency has signed the contract with industry that will lead to the production of a cone-shaped demonstration vehicle known as EXPERT.

It will be launched to 105km by a submarine missile before falling back to the ground and landing by parachute.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8161395.stm