Reportshave suggestedthat Russia may reduce the number of cosmonauts it keeps on the International Space Station ( ISS ) , casting a shadow over what has been one of the most telling accommodative projects between the US and Russia over the last two X .
The news show was reported by Russian newspaperIzvestialast week , with NASA corroborate at a press conference yesterday that the move was under discussion . The accurate reason for it is not open , but funding issues seem to be the main concern .
Since November 2 , 2000 , the ISS has been continuously man . At first it had just a three - somebody gang , but since 2009 there have almost always been six the great unwashed on board , transported to and from the station by Russia ’s Soyuz space vehicle .
NASA has continuously paid for seats for its own cosmonaut on the Soyuz , to the tune of half a billion dollar a twelvemonth . However , in the next few long time , NASA is expected toreturn to launchingastronauts from American stain , via the upcoming SpaceX Dragon and Boeing CST-100 Starliner vehicles . This would take much - needed funding away from Russia ’s space agency , Roscosmos , which has already had to undergosignificant cutsin the last few years .
As a issue , Russia may turn down the number of people it launches to two , meaning it only ever has two cosmonauts on the ISS . This would potentially allow for consignment to be engage on Soyuz missions in position of an extra person , and it would also mean they postulate to launch fewer resupply missions to the ISS with their Progress ballistic capsule , boil down their monetary value of operating the ISS .
A timescale for this is not yet clear . If NASA restrain its act of cosmonaut on the station to three , this would mean only five mass would be up there . With grow pressure level to make as much use of the ISS as potential before it is retired by 2024 , or possibly 2028 or even later , this will be a bit of a blow .
All Leslie Townes Hope is not recede , though . Both Dragon and Starliner will be capable of taking four astronauts each , with NASA ’s chief scientist for the ISS , Julie Robinson , assure IFLScienceearlier this yr that NASA may make use of this increased electrical capacity . This would mean the ISS could be kept with a crew of six – four in the US segment and two in the Russian segment .
At the moment , though , things are still very up in the airwave . But with the ISS expected to run for at least nine more year , it exhibit some unwanted crack appearing in what has been a very fruitful relationship so far .
