Russia to charge for space trips

Russia to charge for space trips

US astronauts are currently carried by Russia for free
The Russian space agency says it will stop carrying US astronauts to the International Space Station for free.
Agency head Anatoly Perminov said US astronauts would be ferried to the ISS "on a commercial basis" from 2006.

US shuttles remain grounded following the fatal accident last year when the Columbia shuttle burned up on re-entry.

Correspondents say that the agency, Roskosmos, operates with a budget much smaller than its US counterpart, Nasa, and is facing financial hardship.


Roskosmos has single-handedly serviced the International Space Station since the suspension of the US shuttle programme last year, Mr Perminov told Itar-Tass news agency.

It has sent two manned and five cargo spaceships to the station this year alone.

"The Russian side shouldered the entire burden... for nearly two years," he said.

rest at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4131363.stm

I don't know which side is most responsible (though I suspect Bush/PNAC), but it looks like there is a falling out regarding the International Space Station. Things with the word "International" in them are not faring well in these times.

locking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1108928