Russians sign deal to fly two tourists to ISS
Capitalism in space: Now that their Soyuz capsule is no longer required to fly NASA astronauts to ISS, the Russians have spare seats, and have now signed a deal with Space Adventures to fly two tourists to ISS in late 2021.
They will announce the tourist’s names later this year.
Space Adventures also has a deal with SpaceX to fly two tourists on a Dragon capsule on a week-plus long orbital mission (not docking with ISS). SpaceX also has a deal with the space station company Axiom to fly tourists to ISS. Next year could thus see two or three tourist flights to space.
Isn’t competition wonderful?
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Capitalism in space: Now that their Soyuz capsule is no longer required to fly NASA astronauts to ISS, the Russians have spare seats, and have now signed a deal with Space Adventures to fly two tourists to ISS in late 2021.
They will announce the tourist’s names later this year.
Space Adventures also has a deal with SpaceX to fly two tourists on a Dragon capsule on a week-plus long orbital mission (not docking with ISS). SpaceX also has a deal with the space station company Axiom to fly tourists to ISS. Next year could thus see two or three tourist flights to space.
Isn’t competition wonderful?
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Any idea what the Russians are charging to fly the tourists? If I had to guess it would be significantly less than what the Russians charged NASA.
Last time I heard it was over $20 million for tourists flights. We are still under contract to pay for one more Soyuz seat for $90 million: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/06/03/despite-spacex-success-nasa-will-pay-russia-90-million-to-take-us-astronaut-to-the-iss/#622fd6c7eacb
“Space Adventures also has a deal with SpaceX to fly two tourists on a Dragon capsule on a week-plus long orbital mission (not docking with ISS).”
That makes me wonder… What is the standard life support capacity of the Dragon 2? 21 man-days? More? Less?
21 man-days would be enough for a tourist flight of 3 people for 7 days duration. The same duration and crew size as the Apollo 8 lunar mission.
It is my understanding the Orion spacecraft has life support for a crew of 4 for a period of 21 days (or in my reckoning 48 man-days of life support).
Brad: NASA’s contract with SpaceX’s only requires Dragon to fly free in orbit for 2.5 days (with full crew of four) and seven months while docked with ISS.
SpaceX however I am sure designed the capsule for a much longer free flight duration. If they are not bringing cargo to or from ISS they would certainly have much more room to store supplies for a week-long mission.
Orion was required to have a 21 day lifespan free-flying, with full four person crew. If Lockheed Martin had the slightest interest in making money from it (which they do not), they could market it for tourist flights, and probably even try to team up with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to launch it (it is heavy and requires a bigger launch vehicle).
I would think the duration would be as long as the service module is able to supply.
Instead of an empty truck, if they would water and air and power, it could go longer.
From a tourist point of view, with no where to go, 7 days is forever.
Better have a creative “cruise director”.
When there is a “hotel” in LEO, that may change.
A day to travel to, 4 or 5 days there, and a day to return.
I maintain hope that companies like Bigelow will recover. (Tho still not convinced on inflatables. And yes, I am aware of GenI and GenII still in orbit, albiet derelict).
I am sure that being in perpetual zero G would be a fantastic experience, but until they have a tourist ship that can sport a Lido deck count me out for flights of a week or longer : )
From Wikipedia:
a lido is a public outdoor swimming pool….
Well, if you want to step out and take a swim…
(/sarc)
Humans deposit waste at regular intervals..Just dont know how it is done….the longer
the flight…well you get the idea.
Correcting my own typo:
Orion has 84 man-days of life support, not 48 man-days of life support.
D’oh!