Russia-EU alliance on new space shuttle-

welsh

welsh

Junkmaster
space1205shuttle_485.jpg


Kind of cool.

And it's a convertible

As the US space shuttle has problems getting off the ground, the EU and Russkies are hard at work.

From Popular Science-
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/347575a5d99e7010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

The Mini Shuttle
Russia partners with Europe to build its own reusable spacecraft for flights to the International Space Station and beyond.

By Daniel Clery | December 2005

With NASA's beleaguered shuttle still grounded over safety concerns—and given the unanswered questions about its replacement, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, which won't be ready to fly until 2012—the European Space Agency is mulling an option to buy its own ride to space. This month ESA plans to request $60 million from its member states to help Russia prepare its new, reusable spaceship, the Clipper, for a crewless test flight by 2011 and a manned flight by 2012.
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Cool! Russkies back into space.
I hope its worth the investment.

The six-person Clipper is designed to replace Russia's three-person Soyuz capsule, which has been in operation since the 1960s and is currently the only reliable transport to the International Space Station. Lighter than NASA's shuttle and more powerful than the Soyuz, the Clipper will be more than just a taxi to the ISS. Notes ESA official Manuel Valls, "It could go to the moon."
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But will it beat the Chinese in getting there?

Will the Bush family have rigged the Moon with lazer defenses against the communist/terrorist invasion?

The Russian Federal Space Agency showed off a full-scale mock-up of the craft at the Moscow International Air Show in August. If all goes well—that is, if ESA ponies up funding—design studies of the Clipper could begin in early 2006.

GETTING INTO SPACE
The 13-ton Clipper is nearly twice the weight of the Soyuz capsule and thus requires a stronger launcher. Russian engineers are considering several options, including the Ukrainian-built Zenit and a yet-to-be-developed Russian rocket called the Onega, which is essentially a beefed-up version of the Soyuz launcher.

CREW CABIN
The 21-foot-long passenger cabin and reentry vehicle will accommodate six crew members (two pilots and four other astronauts or tourists), plus 1,100 pounds of cargo—more than 10 times that of the Soyuz.

HEAT SHIELD
The craft's exterior consists of heat-resistant ceramic panels designed to endure several flights before requiring replacement.

LIVING ROOM
The 13-foot-long detachable habitation module contains life-support systems, including a toilet, as well as the docking port for the International Space Station.

POWER THRUSTERS
The instrument module houses thrusters to separate the Clipper from its launcherand to maneuver the spacecraft. It also contains the electrical system, which is powered by extendable solar arrays. Both the instrument module and the habitation module are jettisoned before reentry.

TWO LANDING OPTIONS
The craft's stubby wings enable the pilot to steer during the descent and make a controlled landing on an airport runway. In case of an emergency, parachutes ensure that the Clipper can land safely on the plains of central
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But the key question-
How do the toilets work?
space1205shuttle_170xartb.jpg
 
John Uskglass said:
More importantly, will it be able to go back in time 40 years and beat us? Because we did this shit 40 years ago. Fuckers.
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...and let it go to hell since then.
 
What practical purpose does it serve, though? It just sucks up GDP that could be used to create bridges to nowhere in Alaska.
 
I would be curious to see if the costs of a shuttle launch were cheaper than other launches for similar missions. One would think a reusable space truck that can deliver large payloads of good to an orbiting space station would be a good idea.
 
John Uskglass said:
More importantly, will it be able to go back in time 40 years and beat us? Because we did this shit 40 years ago. Fuckers.
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Really? So was the first person in space Russian or American? Fuckers.

John said:
What practical purpose does it serve, though?
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Yes. In the same sense Columbus looking for a faster way to India was just a waste of Spanish GDP.

Just because the results aren't direct, doesn't mean they're not there.
 
Actually I am all for this.
The Russians could use the interest in a little tech development. I am not sure what their rocket scientists are doing these days, but I figure its better to keep them employed in space craft design than in building ICBMs for Iran.

ANd if the Europeans get in the deal, why not.

The Japanese are, so are the Chinese, and private industry is exploring the possibility of private space travel.

The US is botching the job of space development behind BS- "Let's get to Mars! Back to the Moon!" and then cuts to NASA. Fuck that, maybe if the US figures out that the Russians, Europeans, Japanese and Chinese are interested in space programs they might reconsider the payoffs of that- and in the process get the US back into it.
 
Really? So was the first person in space Russian or American? Fuckers.
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So yes, that was an unnmonumental event for the Americans to put their man into space, as the Russians had done it. However, we put the first guy on the Moon and will do the same with Mars. So why go there?

Yes. In the same sense Columbus looking for a faster way to India was just a waste of Spanish GDP.
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If Mars was full of an indidgenous population ready for us to sexually exploit and kill with diseas, I'd be all for the exploration of space.
 
John Uskglass said:
However, we put the first guy on the Moon and will do the same with Mars. So why go there?
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Not with the current state of affairs. Though a second space race would be nice.
 
The problem with a space race is that its kind of like pouring a lot of money for a little more nationalism.

As one who doesn't see much use in too much nationalism, nor like the idea of wasting money, I have some misgivings about another space race.

That said, space is kinda cool.
 
As one who doesn't see much use in too much nationalism, nor like the idea of wasting money, I have some misgivings about another space race.
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Competition creates progress. In this case, it's nationalism.

A second space race would advance the world as a entirety, just as the first one did. I'm all for this.
 
I have to agree. The last space race managed to put a guy on the moon with 1960's technology. This one could do a lot of good things for innovation.
 
Either I'm very confused, or just plain stupid - but isn't the Soyuz (sp?) a re-useable spacecraft too?

So, in that case, isn't this 'we already did this 40 years ago' crap kinda crap?
 
I think it msy be one of those things where you send up a big ass rocket, but only a little capsule comes back, so no, it's not reusable.
 
John Uskglass said:
So yes, that was an unnmonumental event for the Americans to put their man into space, as the Russians had done it. However, we put the first guy on the Moon and will do the same with Mars. So why go there?
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Do I *really* have to tell the island-anecdote again?

*sigh*

FINE.

There's this island with two tribes living on it. For some reason one tribe hates the other tribe and their constant animosity is making the small island feel a little bit crowded. Both tribes share an inexplicable fascination with the unconquered sea.

Suddenly, one of the tribesman from the Eastern Tribe tries to swim. And lo and behold, HE CAN! Elation from the Eastern Tribe, as the Western Tribe ignore it. However, it then occurs to one of the Westies to swim to the nearest island. Immediately the Western Tribe declares victory as after all theirs was the greatest find!

Seriously, what's bigger, being the first to swim or the first to swim to another island?

Yeah?

I thought so.
 
Kharn said:
Seriously, what's bigger, being the first to swim or the first to swim to another island?

Yeah?

I thought so.
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The Island, of course. The other tribe shall expand to that island, and clearly has better swimmers.

Also, the first-to-swim-tribe was run by fools, evil men and bad economic policy.
 
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