ESA keen to reach Kliper agreement with Russia

[AndyMc]

Quote
"The European Space Agency (ESA) is to enter into further talks on collaboration on the proposed six-crew reusable Russian spacecraft Kliper by March, with the aim of reaching an agreement by June."

http://www.flightinternational.com/Articles/2006/01/10/Navigation/177/203942/ESA+keen+to+reach+Kliper+agreement+with+Russia.html

[lmike]

Here's the key statement: "At ESA’s ministerial conference late last year only €8 million ($9.4 million) of the €30 million necessary to start collaborative studies was raised. "
The 30mil euros out of which they only raised 8mil was for a study of how ESA could benefit from the Klipper. I.e. some paper pushing. Even if the full 30mil euro could be allocated it'd still only buy a commemorative plaque on the craft (the entire program is estimated at over $1 bil + the launch vehicle) plus complicate the project enormously even befor an inch of spacefaring metal is bent. I still say the Russians would be better off doing it on their own (if they can afford it, and I think they can, but Prez Putin needs to be sold on it, and whether Mr. Perminov can do it, is another question...)