Russia Asks Japan to Take Part in Kliper Spacecraft Development

Created: 13.10.2005 12:45 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 12:45 MSK, 6 hours 8 minutes ago
MosNews

Russia has asked Japan's space development agency to participate in its new Kliper
spacecraft development program, Kyodo news agency reports.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has started collecting information on the
program and will decide by the end of the year whether to accept the request, the officials
said.

Kiyoshi Higuchi, a senior agency official, hinted that the agency is willing to participate in
the basic development, which will start in January 2006.

The European Space Agency is also considering taking part in the joint development and
Japan's participation would enable Russia, Japan and European nations to operate an
international space station without relying on the U.S.

More at: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/10/13/kliperjapan.shtml