Russia, Europe Agencies To Build Spacecraft

MOSCOW — The Russian and European space agencies agreed jointly to build a vehicle for manned flights around the Moon, where only America has landed.

Roscosmos and the European Space Agency chose a conical rather than winged design for the planned spacecraft after six months of study, Roscosmos said on its Web site yesterday. The six- person vehicle will be used in near-Earth and low-lunar orbits.

Russia, home of the first satellite and man in space, is rebuilding a space program that was decimated by the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991. Russia, a key partner in the International Space Station, is also working on space projects with America, China, and India.

For the European venture, Roscosmos agreed to develop a delivery rocket with a load capacity of between 18 and 20 metric tons that will be ready for testing by 2015, with manned flights scheduled to begin three years later. A preliminary design of the new spacecraft should be approved by both sides next month and the final version in October, Roscosmos said.