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Europeans hope to buy Soyuz spacecraft
Published: 29 August, 2009, 03:00
Edited: 24 January, 2010, 09:49
TAGS: Space, Russia, SciTech, Europe
The European Space Agency seeks to buy a Russian Soyuz rocket as European astronauts make their way into orbit. Europe has asked Russia to increase the number of spacecrafts they produce from four to five per year.
The Europeans hope to buy their own vehicle, perhaps with the Canadians who are also considering participating in the deal.
The prospects of the possible agreement were discussed at the International Aviation and Space Salon, MAKS 2009 last week.
With the retirement of the U.S. space shuttle program in sight, Russian craft might soon be the only way of getting to the International Space Station.
The station is likely to gain one extra ‘room’ as Europe plans to begin sending its astronauts to space from 2013 and onwards.
26.08.2009, 12:12
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29.08.2009, 14:06
6 comments
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That is a good news for the Russian's space industry that Europe shows its firm willingness of purchasing Russian spacecraft. Russia should not sell its spacecrafts but indeed let the Eurpeons to pay/hire the Russian spacecraft - that is not true the Europeons concerned about the cost of their own space program. In fact they can not much their technology with Russians spacecraft which has proved since its inception its realibility and safty. The Russians made the first spacestation (MIR) while the west was unable to produce one of their own - but when the Russians allowed the US and Europeon austronots to visit the Russian made MIR space-station then they copied and understood how to create but again, the Russians contribution is again huge in creation fo the ISS. Russia, you are the number one in space technology. Go ahead with your unchallenged invention. Regards,
I don´t think E.S.A. needs any manned spacecraft. Manned Spacecrafts are good just for propaganda, but very expensive and dangerious for humans. Authomatic gadgets, robots, unmanned aircraft...That is enough for us.
Buying Soyuz is good because it is already developed and reliable, so no need to spend billions in euros developing an unnecessary E.S.A. manned aircraft just for propaganda.