The Russian Shuttle

Russia is actively seeking European help with it's new Kliper initiave. Russia has been toying with the idea of a vertical take off winged spacecraft launch system for years. Money, after collapse of the USSR, hasn't always been forthcoming. Perhaps that's the reason for this new European push.

The Soyuz capsule, although well proven, is considered too old. Russia wants something new. I can't for the life of me understand why. The Soyuz capsule has proven itself time and time again. After years of developing that huge wealth and vast experience with one design they want to throw it away?

Full scale mockup of Kliper, with the old Buran Shuttle, in the RKK EuroNews 'Space' magazine today focuses on one of the most exciting projects, Russia's new generation manned spacecraft. After 40 years of making the venerable 'Model-T', the Soyuz capsule, Russia is actively searching for international cooperation on its Kliper spacecraft.
...
"The Soyuz is basically a concept from the sixties and is getting rather old," agrees Frank de Winne, ESA's Belgian astronaut. "It is also getting rather difficult to produce this type of spacecraft. The Americans are examining a new system of manned space transport, called the Crew Exploration Vehicle; and there is the Russian Kliper project, in which Europe is particularly interested."

How is the Soyuz getting difficult to operate? Compared to the shuttle it's shown itself to be more reliable if anything else. Costs were supposed to be the main driver behind moving from EELV's in the 60's to partially reusable spacecraft like the shuttle. The idea was that throwing away capsules after launches was a terrible loss of equipment and money. Create at least a partially reusable sytem like the Shuttle and costs would go down. Instead they doubled. And if you would believe some estimates they quadrupled.

"Kliper is a new generation spacecraft, incorporating brand new ideas in its design," explained Vladimir Daneev, engineer at the RKK Energuya company. "Since the construction of the Shuttle and Buran, a lot of new materials have been found and new technologies have appeared. We will use all this Russian know-how in the new spacecraft, and we are eager to incorporate a maximum of European technology in the design."

All I can read here is dribble. Why is there a push for a new vehicle for the Russians? All I hear here is a bunch of pretty language talking about Russian know-how.

Maybe that's it...

Maybe this is about Russian pride. A new vehicle may just be about showing off the Russian space programme once again. It would show the world that Russia is modern and unique. It would show that Russia is moving forward with new technologies and is at the leading edge... Fill in the rest of the BS here.

Two options have been retained for Kliper's return to Earth. The spacecraft will be able to descend under parachutes in the vast deserted areas of central Asia, or more conventionally like a plane on a hard runway in more populated regions.

I've heard of this idea before. Basically instead of a conventional landing on a runway, you deploy a chute. I've heard that the main justification of having a winged spacecraft, is that the stresses from the aerodynamic forces of re-entry are lower. In other words, the wings are only there for re-entry. In the end, we really shouldn't be caring whether the thing actually lands on a highway. And really it might be cheaper for it not to.

ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes is confident that the response will be positive. "It is not just that Kliper is a good political deal, or that it provides us with a powerful piece of technology," said Daniel Sacotte. "It will give us a vision, a scientific goal that young Europeans badly need today."

A "vision?" A "powerful goal?" Will the BS ever end? This is about politics. The Europeans see a chance to ally with the Russians in a contest for national pride. Kind of notoriety race against the big bad Americans. And what's worse is that European and Russian taxpayers will pay for it. I guess it's too much to ask that if the Russians want to pay for a space program they should be spending the money wisely and for better reasons than to have a "powerful goal..."