European space scientists are planning to join Russia in constructing an ambitious new manned spaceship, the Clipper. The craft, which would be launched on a standard rocket, would carry up to six astronauts into Earth orbit and return them by gliding back down.

The Clipper has been designed to fly to and from the International Space Station and take crews to spacecraft being assembled in orbit as parts of future manned missions to the Moon and Mars.

Crucially, co-operation with Russia would give Europe some independence in manned space flight. At present, the European Space Agency (ESA) - of which Britain is a key member - has to request seats on US or Russian spacecraft.

'We have to go cap in hand and say, "Please, sir, can we put one of our people in space" and often get told no,' said Alan Thirkettle, of the ESA's directorate of human spaceflight. 'Europe is going to have to take the next step and develop a way to put men and women into space on our own. The alternative will be to sit back and watch countries like China get to the Moon while we do nothing.'

If Europe decides to join Russia's Clipper project, a proposal to be outlined before the ESA council in the next week, it will mark a turning point in relations among space powers.

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