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Russian Government Approves Space Plan
By Associated Press
posted: 26 October 2005
2:58 p.m. ET
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In its statement, the
Federal Space Agency did not say how much funding the programs would receive.
But it said the government
plans include a new project called the Phobos-Grunt, which will be sent to the
Martian moon of Phobos to collect soil samples. By the end of 2006, the space
agency will begin work on preparations for a manned trip to Mars.
The new Clipper spacecraft,
currently under development, is planned to be able to carry a crew of six
compared to three crew members on the Soyuz ships - Russia's longstanding
workhorse space craft. Engineers say the Clipper will have a takeoff weight of
16 tons, will be reusable and capable of making up to 25 flights.
Russia also expects to
increase the number of commercial satellite launches, the agency statement
said.
In recent months, however,
Russia has experienced several embarrassing crashes and mishaps involving its space
program.
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