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New space shuttle will be able to land in Russia, rather than Kazakhstan

Posted on: Thursday, 26 February 2004, 06:00 CST

The deputy chief designer of Russia's Energiya space rocket corporation, Nikolay Bryukhanov, says the corporation is developing a new six-man space shuttle, called Kliper (Clipper), which, at over 14 tonnes, will be twice as heavy as the present vehicle used to ferry cosmonauts into space. The shuttle - which will have built-in safety features - will also be able to land in Russia, rather than Kazakhstan. The following is the text of an interview with Bryukhanov by Aleksandr Milkus in the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda on 25 February. The original article is accompanied by a cross-section diagram of the shuttle.

"We already have documentation running into whole tomes," Deputy Chief Designer Nikolay Bryukhanov says, patting a folder full of Kliper [Clipper] presentation material with his hand. "The work has been going on for four years. Though, of course, we kept it quiet for a time."

The idea is simple. The Soyuz craft are coming to the end of their life. They have already been upgraded three times. What should replace them? Shuttle vehicles of the American type? Work on the Buran was shut down in 1992. It is not clear, of course, what would have happened if it had continued. NASA itself is at a crossroads right now. After two disasters there would be dangers in relaunching the space shuttle, but what is to replace it?

While the Americans ponder, people in Russia are making drawings and calculations and doing experiments. The Kliper combines everything that is best from our experience of manned spaceflight. And at the same time it is a radical leap forward. The Onega carrier- rocket that will lift the Kliper into orbit is an upgraded version, but it is nevertheless the same, good old Soyuz - the world's most reliable carrier-rocket. With one tiny difference - the Onega will lift twice as big a payload as the Soyuz, at over 14 tonnes. Which is precisely what the Kliper will weigh.

The craft itself consists of a spacious cabin somewhat reminiscent of the nose-cone of the Buran, with instrumentation and equipment compartments. Behind them - and not in the nose - is the docking hatch.

The craft is attached to the rocket without the addition of deflector shields. Emergency rescue system engines are installed in the nose-cone at the top. If need be, the cosmonauts can be rescued at any moment by simply detaching from the rocket. Unlike the [US] shuttle, there are no areas that present a danger on launch into orbit or on landing.

"First of all, the Kliper ensures crew safety in any phase of a flight," Nikolay Bryukhanov explained to me. "Second, it is much more comfortable for the cosmonauts, because the craft is substantially larger. Third, it has better landing accuracy. The Kliper will be able to land in Russia, rather than Kazakhstan, by altering its trajectory actually during its descent. The equipment compartment detaches before the landing and burns up in the atmosphere. And the returning spacecraft itself - the most expensive part - can be reused many times over.

[Milkus] "On the diagram of the spacecraft the cosmonauts are not on couches but sitting up in seats... [pluristops as published]

[Bryukhanov] "Correct. On the new craft the G-forces will be less, at up to two and a half times normal.

[Milkus] "Tell us honestly. You have raised the possibility of putting six people into orbit. Has that been done with your sights on Mars? All the specialists concur in the view that this is the number that should be sent to the Red Planet."

"It is not just a question of Mars," the designer answered evasively. "Even in the immediate future, space structures will be assembled in orbit out of component units sent up from the ground. It is not important whether that applies to a Mars craft or a near- Earth base. We calculate that six people constitute the optimum crew of space construction workers.

[Milkus] "Presumably the new craft will require a vast amount of money.

[Bryukhanov] "We estimate that all the operations involved will cost R10bn."

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