posted 06-12-2006 06:15 PM               

A four-crew lunar return capsule could be operational by 2014 if the European Space Agency and Russia's Federal Space Agency (FSA) get a €30 million ($39 million) pledge from ESA member states next week.

The money is for ESA's proposed two-year preparatory programme for the Advanced Crew Transportation System, which would start this month if the funding is approved.

The joint ESA/FSA transport system study would examine a Moonship consisting of capsule, service and habitation modules. The lunar return capsule would be based on the Russian Soyuz vehicle. The service and habitation modules could be developed from ESA's International Space Station Columbus laboratory and its Automated Transfer Vehicle ISS resupply ship.

posted 07-25-2006 02:07 PM            

1. analysis of mission requirements that will include manned lunar flights;

2. preliminary system design examining vehicle configuration;

3. detailed subsystem design including the docking mechanism ;

4. development of mechanisms, agreements and workshare decisions for a chosen vehicle full-scale development