MOSCOW, August 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia...
said, adding that the first spacecraft would be ready in 2010.The United States is the only country to have put astronauts on the Moon. Neil Armstrong was memorably the first in 1969 and five other missions followed him until the lunar program was wrapped up in 1972.
"Energia has started the development of a modernized Soyuz spacecraft," Sevastyanov said.
"New digital technologies will be used during the development and operation of the new spacecraft," he said. "Besides, the new space vehicle will be able to conduct flights not only to the International Space Station, but also to the Moon."
Sevastyanov said the Russian Space Agency and the European Space Agency had already expressed their support for the project and the first modernized Soyuz would be launched in 2010.
The Energia president said the launches would be conducted both from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan and from the Kourou launch site in the French Guiana.