NASA to buy Russian Vehicles!

[nacnud]

A new story on Nasaspaceflight.com<br /><br />NASA order four Russian spacecraft<br /><font color="yellow">11/11/2005 6:03:00 AM<br />By: Sergi Manstov<br />The Russian Federal Space Agency has revealed that they have received an order for four Russian spacecraft from NASA.<br /><br />The US agency has ordered two Soyuz and two Progress supply ships for NASA missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Full story</font>

 

[dobbins]

The number of Shuttle flights mentioned is interesting, 17 vs. the 19 that was quoted in the manifest last month. I wonder if this was an error or if it's something that came out of the PCRB meeting that was scheduled yesterday?<br /><br />Too bad it's a federal holiday, we will have to wait until Monday for news unless some board member who works at NASA is willing to spill the beans.<br /><br />

 

[nacnud]

Yeah I spotted that too, perhaps some logistics flight(s) have been able to be transphered to Soyuz, Progress? That would make sense if there were to be a buget shortfall in 2008 but I've no idea if it is feasable.

 

[dobbins]

Right now there just isn't enough information to reach a conclusion. If it is a reduction of flights that would help avoid or reduce a budget shortfall. It would be nice to get something official from NASA but I can understand their reluctance to make a schedule official. If a flight isn't officially scheduled they don't have to face the prospect of the Press making a big deal of "canceled flight" if circumstances result in a change of plans.<br /><br />

 

[spaceiscool]

at lest these four ships work

 

[spaceiscool]

this is the only place with free spech. spaceport is boring, nasaspaceflight banned me cause im not a shuttle groupie. space forum america has one poster! here people agree with views that nasa suck, shuttles suck and the vse is a pipe dreem. try to be less insulting just because someone doesnt agree with your pay check.

 

[rubicondsrv]

Spaceiscool please stop trolling. <br /><br />however if you must continue to troll please violate the TOS so you can be banned. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[cuddlyrocket]

"nasaspaceflight banned me cause im not a shuttle groupie..."<br /><br />I thought Chris banned ESAS-IS-A-LIE? Interesting.<br /><br />I'm not a Shuttle groupie either, and he hasn't banned me.<br /><br />"here people agree with views that nasa suck, shuttles suck and the vse is a pipe dreem."<br /><br /><i>Some</i> people agree, although not always the same people.

 

[spacefire]

woohoo NASA is outsourced now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

I renew my offer for NASA Engineers and Managers to come work on my plantation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[tap_sa]

<font color="yellow">"nasa suck, shuttles suck"</font><br /><br />And some people suck too.

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">"nasaspaceflight banned me cause im not a shuttle groupie..."<br /><br />I thought Chris banned ESAS-IS-A-LIE? Interesting.</font><br /><br />Yes... we established a week or so back that ESAS-IS-A-LIE and spaceiscool are in fact the same beloved creature.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[tap_sa]

<font color="yellow">" ESAS-IS-A-LIE and spaceiscool are in fact the same beloved creature. "</font><br /><br />And even that doesn't violate TOS enough to get the boot? This site really prefers quantity over quality <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

 

[dobbins]

SDC: Where the Trolls meet to harass space advocates.<br /><br />

 

[drwayne]

"Yes... we established a week or so back that ESAS-IS-A-LIE and spaceiscool are in fact the same beloved creature."<br /><br />Do you have solid proof of that?<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

"And even that doesn't violate TOS enough to get the boot?"<br /><br />I have no way of knowing that they are the same from my post as a moderator. However, if someone has evidence, I can foward that on to the administrators, who do have access to more powerful tools than they let a klutz like me have.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[lampblack]

With all respect, I shared my evidence with you within the past week. I'll send it again.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Cool. I will readily proclaim senility or fat fingers.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Wait. Are you referring to a PM you sent me a while back - I was very confused by it, and so I shared it with the other moderators, who were also confused by it.<br /><br />I'll look at it again - maybe I was just tired...<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Guest appearance time given I can help out with this issue.<br /><br />Spaceiscool is the same person using the login ESAS_IS_A_LIE (who is pretending to be a NASA employee when protesting about being banned before I even allowed the fool to post on my site (our TOS is zero tolerance) - I've confirmed that his claiming to holding some sort of involvement with NASA was A_LIE <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ). I can PM you Dwayne with details for your evaluation.

 

[drwayne]

Thanks sir.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

I guess this purchase fills the crew rotation need left open by Shuttle.<br /><br />What would be infinitely more exciting is if NASA could barter a deal whereby both they and the Russians provided Soyuzes to ISS every 6 months, so crew size could be increased to six. I imagine consumables then become a problem, but it's a tantalizing prospect to consider nonetheless.<br /><br />What do you think NASA will be paying per launch, ball-park figure? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Well it's around $20M for a tourist flight, so if that is at a profit my SWAG should be $50M per Soyuz/Progress. That sounds absurdly cheap though...<br /><br />I really wish NASA, ESA and RSA could get together and try and figure out how to get the ISS crew up to 6. One idea might be to have 6 crew members for six months and the 3 for the next three months. However NASA has now pulled out of science on the ISS so may not be interested.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Yeah, that does sound overly cheap, nacnud. As I understand it, the $20M price-tag on a seat doesn't cover the cost at all. It's simply an arbitrary amount, determined by the marketers to result in a sustainable demand in space-tourism terms.<br /><br />I think the Russians see it as a way to defray some of the cost of each launch only. I imagine the all-up price will be significantly more to NASA per unit. I'm sure they will get some kind of volume-discount though. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[n_kitson]

In 2003 the marginal cost of a Soyuz was $40 million. Today's cost can probably be approximated from exchange rate changes and Russian labor and material cost indices, if anyone is up to the challenge... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />