NASA Extends Crew Flight Contract With Russian Space; Agency Administrator Bolden Repeats Call For American-Made Commercial Alternative

WASHINGTON -- 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.

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).

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

Source: NASA

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