Europe targets manned spaceship (BBC)

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By Jonathan Amos
Science reporter, BBC News, Bremen

Europe has taken the first step towards building its own manned spaceship.

The European Space Agency has asked industry to work out the requirements of the craft and its likely cost.

Known as the Advanced Re-Entry Vehicle, it would be developed in phases - first as an unmanned vessel to carry cargo, and then as an astronaut crew ship.

At the moment, Europe has no independent capability to transport humans into space and must hitch rides on American or Russian systems.

Tuesday's announcement is just the start of a very long process, and there is no guarantee either ARV variant will be built.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8139347.stm