|
|
 |
NASA Won’t Buy Russian Cargo Vessels
NASA will not acquire more Russian Progress cargo spacecraft after 2011, agency representative David Steitz told the website space.com. NASA will use American commercial craft after that date. Steitz stated that the decision was motivated by the desire not to spend money abroad. The decision to buy Soyuz spacecraft remains in effect. The last flight of the space shuttle is due to take place in 2010. After that, the only way for American astronauts to reach the International Space Station will be by the Russian Soyuz.
The 2000 U.S. bans Nuclear Nonproliferation Act bans American federal agencies from technical cooperation with states that cooperate with terrorist states (such as Syria and Iran) that are developing nuclear programs. Russia came under the purvue of that act when it helped Iran build the Bushehr atomic power plant in the south of that country.
On September 28 of this year, the U.S. Congress made provisions for continuing NASA cooperation with the Russian Roscosmos until 2016. In 2015, the space shuttle’s replacement, the Orion spaceship, is expected to go into service. In the documents NASA provided the Congress in April of this year to receive permission to continue cooperating with Russia, it did not indicate plans to buy more Progress craft. NASA has preliminary agreements with several commercial firms to develop and possibly purchase commercial spacecraft.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
