Kliper

Kliper (??????, also referred to as Clipper) is a spacecraft proposed in 2004 by Russian rocket and space company RKK Energia. Designed primarily to replace the Soyuz spacecraft, it is a partly reusable spaceplane that glides into the atmosphere at an angle that produces much less acceleration on the human occupants than the current Soyuz. Kliper is currently proposed in two versions: as a lifting body design and as a spaceplane with small wings. The craft can carry up to six people and can be used for ferry services between earth and the International Space Station. It has also (as of September 28th, 2005) been declared that it will be used on trans-lunar missions (though with no plans for landings) and may at least theoretically be used on Mars exploration. The primary focus for its development was to reduce costs for manned space flights by using the reusable spaceship approach and to replace the ageing Soyuz capsule design.

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Spacecraft: A spacecraft is a vehicle that travels through space. Spacecraft include robotic or unmanned space probes as well as manned vehicles. The term is sometimes also used to describe artificial satellites, which have similar design criteria....

RKK Energia: REDIRECT S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia...

Soyuz spacecraft: Soyuz (Soyus, ????, union) is a series of spacecraft designed by Sergey Korolev for the Soviet Union's space program. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft design and were originally built as part of the Luna program. The spacecraft are launched by the Soyuz launch vehicle, as part of the Soy...