NASA announced this week its intention to purchase six more seats aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft for U.S. astronauts bound for the International Space Station. The notice released Monday indicates the space agency will book transportation on Soyuz launches to the space station through the end of 2017, with return trips to Earth reserved through early 2018. NASA and international partners typically send crews on six-month expeditions on the space station, launching and landing on Soyuz capsules provided by Roscosmos, or the Russian federal space agency. The proposed sole-source deal also includes rescue and training services provided by Roscosmos. The seats may also be used by European, Japanese and Canadian astronauts, whose transportation to the space station is contracted with Russia through NASA.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:42:00 +0000
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