Europe to Join Russia Building Next Space Shuttle

An anonymous reader writes "Development agreement takes shape during the Paris Air Show It's all but official--Russia and Europe will soon embark on a cooperative effort to build a next-generation manned space shuttle. Speaking at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, France, in June, Russian space officials confirmed earlier reports from Moscow that their partners at the European Space Agency would join the Russian effort to build a new reusable orbiter, dubbed Kliper."

Comments

Re:Great to see something new.

[ciroknight]

I drive a 1974 Jeep. Runs like a champ, never have had a problem with it not starting on cue, and the only real problems with it are its gas guzzling nature, and it's exceptionally small fuel tank for that use.

That being said, the Space Transport System program has been a wild success, and the space shuttle is just as reliable as my jeep. The problem is where the shuttle is located on its launch vehichle, and how that launch vehicle is put together. Foam falls off the tank because they use foam to insulate the thing, where a little more cost could use electric warmers. SRBs blow up because their rubber seals aren't constructed properly. But the shuttle is still fine.

I think now, as we should have been doing years ago, we should be investigating Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicles. The current orbiters would make great museum pieces (imagine being able to go inside a shuttle in a museum), and could drive up the resources used to build alternatives. The SRBs have proven themselves to be lean, mean, heavy lifting machines, and as they are so reusable, we should go on reusing them.

As for the European Union building a new shuttle, good for them. They've been needing shuttle-like versatility. Perhaps it'll help spark a renewal in space technologies, along with the privatization of space technology, here in America. Competition is great until it stagnates, and we've proven that one time and again in our time honored tradition here in America.

Re:DIdn't the USSR try this once?

[Mr. Maestro]

Answered my own question!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran

why don't we leave more stuff up there?

[pintpusher]

I know this is slightly OT, but years and years ago there was a sci-fi book that has always stuck with me. The book was about a guy who was essentially the first EMT in space. But, the really interesting part was the simple space-station technology. basically, they stuck a really simple box-car sized tube on the top of a booster and shot it up there. The astronauts came back in some kind of capsule (lifting body?, reusable?) but left the big tube (sort of like a tank) up there. These tanks had basic standard life support systems and standard airlocks on each end and on two sides. Each launch put a new one up there, they'd strap 'em together and eventually they had a space station. Need more solar power? send one up with a bunch of panels inside it. Deploy them over the surface of existing modules already in orbit. Need more computers? life-support? water treatment? whatever, just send another one up with the gear crammed in and depoy it as needed throughout the standardized compartments. neat concept. love to see it. prolly never happen. ho hum.