Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Aug 31, 2006 22:25:56 GMT -6
Russia Plans To Launch First Flight To The Moon In 2011-2012
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Aug 31, 2006
Russia plans to conduct its first manned flight around the Moon in 2011-2012, the president of a leading spacecraft company said Thursday.
"The Energia Rocket and Space Corporation plans to explore the Moon in three stages: a Soyuz spacecraft flight to the Moon, the construction of a permanent base on the Moon (from 2010 to 2025), and the industrial exploration of space around the Earth's satellite," Nikolai Sevastyanov said at the 5th Airspace Congress in the Russian capital.
Russia is planning to use a modernized version of the Soyuz manned spacecraft, the workforce of the Russian space fleet, for the flights to the Moon, Sevastyanov said, adding that the first spacecraft would be ready in 2010.
Source: www.moondaily.com/reports/Russia_Plans_To_Launch_First_Flight_To_The_Moon_In_2011_2012_999.html
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C'mon NASA!...
