Kliper definitely toast for the next 2 years

ESA had hoped to fund a two-year study costing about €50 million ($59 million) into preliminary designs for the Kliper, a space plane Russia is developing to replace its workhorse Soyuz spacecraft. The spacecraft, billed as providing Europe with independent access to space, had received positive signs of support leading up to the meeting.

But on Monday, some of the largest contributors to ESA - such as Germany, Italy and France - failed to support the programme, forcing it to be cut from the budget. "It is a pity," says ESA spokesperson Franco Bonacina. "But in 2008 there is another ministerial meeting, so Kliper might pop up again."

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