John Doe wrote:

Jim Oberg wrote:

It's all but official-Russia and Europe will soon embark on a cooperative
effort to build a next-generation manned space shuttle.


While this is a most interesting development, it is not a shuttle
replacement, by far.


Which is good since neither ESA countries nor Russia seem to be
willing to bear 'shuttle replacement' cost (even combined). Actually
Kliper still appears to big for ESA needs.


It is a soyuz replacement. Falls quite short of
what the shuttle can do.


I hope so, seeing what the shuttle does to its owner's manned space
programme :-/.

Regards,
NE