http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.htmlQuote:
"MOSCOW (Interfax) – The Zenit rocket made at the Yuzhnoye design bureau in Ukraine is regarded as the main vehicle that will take the new reusable Russian spaceship Kliper to space, a source in the Russian space industry told Interfax.
"Zenit launch vehicles, serially manufactured in Ukraine, are likely to become the main vehicle for Kliper, which was designed at Energia Rocket and Space Corporation," the source said.
The official said the Russian Federal Space Agency is holding a closed tender for the best space transport system to replace the Russian manned Soyuz and cargo Progress spacecraft.
"Kliper is the indisputable leader among the three participating projects. I think that Kliper will be declared the winner at the beginning of February," the source said.
The Kliper project will secure government support facilitating its implementation in a relatively short time, the source said."
Well, it had to come I guess. Easily the best and most powerful launcher for the job. Perhaps they can now forget all that nonsense about having the 'Parom' tug meet the Kliper and deliver it to the ISS - not that the whole idea of the Parom tug isn't a good idea in its own right. With the Zenit already in service and having Russian engines any way, (are the second stage engines Russian too?) it seemed a bit like sour grapes to dismiss it. Lets hope the Russians and Ukranians patch up their differences and leave them down here on Earth.
That of course only holds if the story's true