Comments on: NASA signs deal with Russians for one Soyuz seat to ISS https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/ Sun, 17 May 2020 13:17:35 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Steve C https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/#comment-1080944 Sun, 17 May 2020 13:17:35 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=65695#comment-1080944 I hope NASA lets SpaceX install a 4th seat so the Russians can sit in the back of the bus.

]]> By: Rose https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/#comment-1080752 Thu, 14 May 2020 15:52:29 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=65695#comment-1080752 Russian sources reported back in February that NASA was negotiating for two seats — one in MS-17 (the October flight mentioned above which will deliver Stephen Bowen) and one in MS-18 (Spring 2021) — expected to total $170 million.
* https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1229289185376374784
I’ve not read anything since about a seat on MS-18, and assume NASA skipped the “volume discount”, figuring they would negotiate for a seat on MS-18 only if they had problems with DM-2 or USCV-1.

]]> By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/#comment-1080734 Thu, 14 May 2020 05:04:44 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=65695#comment-1080734 ” I would like to welcome you to the Space-X Crewed Dragon flight number 4.
Today we will be lifting off at 2:30 pm from Cape Canaveral for a flight to the International Space Station. Our meal today will be blackened salmon with fresh greens and a nice sherbet for desert. Today’s movie will be Shrek.”

So please sit back and enjoy your flight.”

]]> By: Rose https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/#comment-1080699 Wed, 13 May 2020 20:14:53 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=65695#comment-1080699 The continued barter agreement will mean one Russian will fly for free on each Commercial Crew flight and one American will fly for free on each Soyuz. This staggers the crew rotation to the benefit to all involved.

NASA wanted it to start with the first post-certification, operational crewed mission, but the Russians said they wouldn’t trust a Crew Dragon until it had flown at least two crewed missions. I assume that decision involved a lot more politics than actual safety concerns.

Doug Loverro, when announcing today that the Crew Dragon has been mounted to its Falcon 9, also mentioned that Boeing is on schedule for the repeat of it’s uncrewed flight test later this year, “entering crewed service soon after that.” https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1260584284110413827

Will the Russians want to see two successful crewed Starliner flights before they hitch a ride on one?

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/#comment-1080696 Wed, 13 May 2020 19:33:50 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=65695#comment-1080696 In reply to Jay.

Jay: Heh. As far as I know, the Russians get free rides, as part of the old barter agreement when the shuttle was flying. I think we simply continued it after the shuttle was gone.

As I said, “there are many who swear a greater loyalty to space operations from all countries, even at the expense of the United States.”

]]> By: Jay https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-signs-deal-with-russians-for-one-soyuz-seat-to-iss/#comment-1080695 Wed, 13 May 2020 19:09:58 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=65695#comment-1080695 I noticed on the scheduled third manned flight of the Dragon, there will be a Russian. Is NASA charging the Russians for that seat?

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