Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 12, 2008 8:02:00 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Astronauts Will Have to Hitch Rides With the Russians

Posted Mar 7, 08 2:04 PM CST in US,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – When NASA retires its fleet of space shuttles in 2010, the agency will have no way of sending men into space until 2015, at the earliest, the Washington Post reports. To carry astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station, largely funded by American taxpayers, the US will have to rely on the only other country that can send men into space: Russia. And we'll have to pay for the privilege.

One Florida Senator blamed the administration for being unwilling to adequately fund NASA. “Now, we’ll be forced to give billions to the Russians because we didn’t spend millions before,” he said. “It’s the worst of all worlds.” One private company, SpaceX, says that with enough backing it can have a ship ready by 2012, but NASA is skeptical.

Source Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • 'It's In, Thank God': Astronauts Finish Risky Chore

    Jul 10, 08 5:17 PM CDT
    'It's In, Thank God': Astronauts Finish Risky Chore Two Russian astronauts successfully removed an apparently defective bolt from their Soyuz spacecraft during a risky spacewalk today, the Houston Chronicle reports. The bolt itself packed the punch of an explosive firecracker, so the astronauts had to disconnect it, then stuff it into a steel case. "It's in, thank God," said one of the spacewalkers. More »

  • Discovery Returns to Earth

    Jun 14, 08 12:30 PM CDT
    Discovery Returns to Earth The space shuttle Discovery swooped back to Earth today after successfully expanding the International Space Station, the AP reports. The shuttle’s seven crew members delivered Kibo, the new billion-dollar Japanese science lab, and a pump to repair a broken toilet. Discovery also brought home flight engineer Garret Reisman, who’d talked of missing his wife, calling her “my favorite earthling.” More »

  • Astronaut Waves Robot Arm

    Jun 9, 08 3:25 PM CDT
    Astronaut Waves Robot Arm A Japanese astronaut on board the International Space Station successfully unfolded a massive robotic arm from the newly installed Kibo laboratory today, Reuters reports. The arm moved slightly on Saturday, but today’s extension of the 33-foot device was the first full test, Space.com reports. The Japanese-built robot had nothing to grab; the equipment the arm will tend to arrives next year. More »

  • South Korea's First Astronaut Docks at ISS

    Apr 10, 08 6:38 PM CDT
    South Korea's First Astronaut Docks at ISS South Korea’s first astronaut arrived at the International Space Station today, and her country must be relieved—having paid $25 million to get her there, Space.com reports. The South Korean president called So-yeon Yi’s mission a “stepping stone” in that country’s fledgling space program; lacking ships of their own, they paid the Russians to take her on an 11-day spin. More »

  • Shuttle Returns to Earth

    Mar 26, 08 7:57 PM CDT
    Shuttle Returns to Earth The space shuttle Endeavour returned to Earth with a rare night landing to wrap up an ambitious mission to the International Space Station, the AP reports. The shuttle had to land in darkness after NASA called off an earlier attempt because of cloud cover. Astronauts blasted off 16 days ago, delivering a 12-foot robot to the space station and installing the first portion of a Japanese laboratory. More »

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during an opening ceremony of the MAKS-2005 International air and space show in the town of Zhukovsky, some 50 kms from Moscow, in this August 2005 file...   (Getty Images)
In this image provided by NASA STS-120 and Expedition 16 crew members pose for a group photo following a joint news conference Wednesday Oct. 31, 2007 in the Harmony node of the International Space Station....   (Associated Press)
NASA Chief Administrator Michael Griffin, left, and Russia's Space Agency Chief Anatoly Perminov seen during a signing ceremony at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Moscow, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Russian engineers talk to each other in one of the sections of Russian Rocket-Space Energiya Corportion (RKK Energiya) in the town of Korolyov, near Moscow, in this July 2001 photo, with Soviet 'Buran'...   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Buran-Energia. The Russian Space Shuttle system   (bluezzzzzz (YouTube))
STS-88 First Shuttle to the International Space Station   (juancarlosbascu (YouTube))

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

Russia  • NASA  • International Space Station  • astronauts  • space shuttle  • space travel  • Russian space program  • cosmonauts


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories