Russia's Energia space corporation has unveiled the full-size mockup of a new 6-passenger reusable Clipper lifting body spacecraft to replace the Soyuz design that has been used for Russian manned flights since 1967.
The first Clipper test flight could occur as early as 2010-12, depending on Russian government or international funding. The Clipper could be launched atop the Ukrainian Zenit-2 booster or new Onega that Energia is developing.
The Clipper would be configured with two main modules, a 9-ton crew capsule and a detachable support module. The new design has been mentioned previously, but no mockups were shown (AW&ST Mar. 1, p. 17).
Russia is considering two Clipper configurations: the Energia lifting body design (see photo) that would land vertically with a parachute; and a different Sukhoi-winged configuration that would land horizontally.
The shape of lifting body design would permit better trajectory control and lower g-loads during descent than the current Soyuz, which can carry only three people with no extra cargo. The launch weight of the Clipper would be 13 metric tons, and it could carry up to 1,100 lb. of additional payload. The Clipper would be designed to provide up to five days of autonomous flight and would be designed for up to 20-25 flights over an expected lifetime of 10 years. The heat-protecting shield, braking and landing engines, and parachute system would be replaced after each flight.
The head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, said earlier that the Clipper has been included in a draft of "Federal Program of Space Activity for 2006-2010," which determines space program priorities and sources of financing. It is unclear, however, whether Russia intends to cover the total cost of development or seek international funding. Energia proposes to build four Clippers for International Space Station servicing and other tasks.
You know I really feel sorry for the Russian space scientists and engineers - they have such grandiose plans but lack the funds to implement any of them. Their only hope is for international support, but because the U.S. is the technological giant in space exploration (shuttle excluded), most countries turn to the U.S. for leadership. I sometimes find myself wishing that Russia had NASA's budget to do with as they willed.
Won't be built, unless the U.S. helps fund it. The Russians have no money to spend on these types of projects. May be the Chinese will find it interesting.
