Myasishchev plans large space tourist vehicle [Update]

A Russian news article reports on a large suborbital space tourist vehicle in development by the Myasishchev Design Bureau (MDB): First private tourist spacecraft is being designed in Russia - Interfax (via spacetoday.net).

The Myasishchev website has this page with a picture of a model of the two vehicle system. (I think Virgin and other space tourism vehicle companies would disagree with the sentence, "It is worth mentioning that in projects developed all over the world (including Virgin Galactic) little attention is devoted to the problems of flight safety that in essence are determinant for attracting future tourists.") The project is getting funding from an unnamed Russian company.

I've not heard anything lately about the status of the smaller 5-seat Explorer vehicle, which was announced in February of 2006. It was to be backed by a consortium led by Space Adventures. My impression is that they never got beyond the design study stage. The Myasishchev website, though, still lists it as an active project and offers this page about it.

[Update: A reader in the comments here points to another picture of the M-91 vehicle pair.]

Posted 05/01/08 | 12:16:00 by TopSpacer | Filed under: Russia in Space

Comments

Based on reading the article, it looks like "documentation and a draft design" and "the technical feasibility study for the system" is all that a private company is "fully financing". The cost of that could probably be measured in the tens of thousands of dollars...

Posted by Ken D. at 05/01/08 12:35:46

<i>>My impression is that they never got beyond the design study stage.</i>

You are right. In fact this project was cancelled by Myasishchev.

Please look at the picture with higher resolution:
http://fotki.yandex.ru/user...

It's preliminary design.

<i>>...is all that a private company is "fully financing".</i>

Ken D, not exactly. Now they rebuild two aircrafts. Myasishchev want to make a public presentation in a month.

Posted by From Russia at 05/01/08 14:07:46

I'm sorry, this is hi-res pic:
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/...

Posted by From Russia at 05/01/08 14:13:56

From Russia: Thanks for the picture link and the info on the two projects.
- Clark

Posted by TopSpacer at 05/01/08 18:59:17

Hopefully the space tourism market doesn't get too crowded.

Posted by nn at 05/02/08 01:00:05

Most of the airframe length looks to be passenger cabin... doesn't look like there's much room for engine and fuel tankage in that spaceplane :-/

Posted by Stellvia at 05/02/08 02:58:04

Stellvia, that's why Myasishchev said this is preliminary design. I think next version of mock-up will be closer to reality.

Posted by From Russia at 05/02/08 04:30:50

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