RUSSIALINK: “Russia willing to cut Soyuz crews for US ISS flights” – Interfax

International Space Station file photo

(Interfax – Oct. 31, 2019)

The head of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, has said it is prepared to reduce the crews manning the Soyuz spacecraft to make room for U.S. astronauts travelling to the International Space station (ISS).

Rogozin said Nasa head Jim Bridenstine had spoken to him about accommodating US crews on the Soyuz in 2020-2021, the Interfax news agency reported on 31 October.

Dmitry Rogozin file photo

“We will try and help our American colleagues, cut down our crews. We will have to sacrifice something,” Rogozin was quoted saying.

Rogozin said the request the result of the US “requiring additional time to double-check all decisions on the launch escape systems”.

He added that the making the Russian crews smaller will also lead to cuts in the experimental programme on the ISS.

[featured image is file photo from another occasion]

Comment