With Shuttle Set To Retire ... Russia Boosts The Price For
Transportation
This development was pretty much inevitable. NASA has signed a
$753 million modification to the current International Space
Station contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency for crew
transportation, rescue and related services from 2014 through June
2016. The firm-fixed price modification covers comprehensive Soyuz
support, including all necessary training and preparation for
launch, flight operations, landing and crew rescue of long-duration
missions for 12 individual space station crew members. The price
reflects a 20 percent increase for transportation to the station,
or about $63 million per astronaut, according to Reuters.
NASA has efforts underway to develop an American-made commercial
capability for crew transportation and rescue services to the
station following this year's retirement of the space shuttle
fleet. Agency Administrator Charles Bolden cited this week's Soyuz
contract extension as a reminder of how critically important those
efforts are.
"The President's 2012 budget request boosts funding for our
partnership with the commercial space industry and prioritizes our
efforts to ensure that American astronauts and the cargo they need
are transported by American companies rather than continuing to
outsource this work to foreign governments," Bolden said. "This new
approach in getting our crews and cargo into orbit will create good
jobs and expand opportunities for our American economy. If we are
to win the future and out build our competitors, it's essential
that we make this program a success."
NASA made Commercial Crew Development awards in 2010 to
stimulate efforts within the private sector, encouraging them to
develop and demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities. The agency
anticipates these systems will be available by the middle of the
decade.
These services will provide our primary transportation to and
from the International Space Station for U.S., Canadian, European
and Japanese astronauts. To ensure a smooth transition as this new
capability is developed, Soyuz support will continue as a backup
capability for about a year after commercial services begin.
With this contract modification, station crew members may launch
on Soyuz vehicles during a 24-month period. The contract will
provide for the launch of six people in calendar year 2014 and six
more in 2015, as well as their return to Earth in the spring of
2016 after a six-month stay aboard the station. The extended
contract ends June 30, 2016.
Under the contract modification, the Soyuz flights will carry
limited cargo associated with crew transportation to and from the
station, and assist with the disposal of trash. The cargo provided
per Soyuz seat is approximately 110 pounds (50 kilograms) launched
to the station, approximately 37 pounds (17 kilograms) returned to
Earth and trash disposal of approximately 66 pounds (30
kilograms).