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Soyuz

NASA is hoping to begin sending astronauts up to the International Space Station in the coming years with the assistance of private space firms like SpaceX and Boeing. Even so, the agency is planning for the worst and securing an alternating means of transport. No, the Shuttle isn't beingness brought out of mothball. NASA has inked a bargain with Russian space agency Roscosmos (via Boeing) for as many equally five more seats on Soyuz capsules.

Boeing acted as an intermediary for NASA on this deal, which covers 2 confirmed seats for launches in March and September of 2018. That's before the expected start of the Commercial Coiffure Program that volition meet the SpaceX Dragon ii and Boeing CST-100 accept humans into space on ISS runs. There have been a few delays in these programs, so NASA is hedging its bets.

The two confirmed round-trip seats will cost NASA $74.7 million. Simply hey, that includes checked luggage! This figure is slightly less than the $81.vii million Russia got the last time the agency booked travel in 2015. The savings are largely thanks to Boeing's involvement. Russia recently decided to lower its ISS crew complement from 3 to 2 cosmonauts, which freed upward some spots. Boeing got admission to the seats as part of a long-running legal battle with Russian infinite contractor RSC Energia. The American business firm was apparently willing to let them get for less than Russia would have.

What well-nigh the other three seats? NASA has the option to buy them, if at that place's a demand. These will be for launches in 2019 and beyond. At that time, the Commercial Crew Plan should exist up and running. The first manned examination flights of Dragon 2 and CST-100 for NASA are currently targeting the middle of 2018 for manned flights, but that schedule might not hold.

SpaceX Dragon V2

SpaceX Dragon V2

In the event these spacecraft are not prepare by 2019, NASA will have those three actress seats available for purchase. I or ii of them might go to astronauts from the ESA, JAXA, or another spaceflight partner for which NASA handles send to the ISS.

NASA and Roscosmos have agreed on a "ride-sharing" arrangement when the Commercial Crew Program is up and running. At to the lowest degree ane American will be on each Soyuz launch and i Russian will be on each SpaceX or Boeing launch. This ensures at to the lowest degree one crew fellow member from each nation is on the ISS at all times. The cost for NASA to accomplish the ISS should get down dramatically when it can buy seats from SpaceX and Boeing.