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Russia Doubles Price For Launching US Astronauts

Third Position writes "NASA on Tuesday signed a contract to pay $55.8 million per astronaut for six Americans to fly into space on Russian Soyuz capsules in 2013 and 2014. NASA needs to get rides on Russian rockets to the International Space Station because it plans to retire the space shuttle fleet later this year. NASA now pays half as much, about $26.3 million per astronaut, when it uses Russian ships."

10 of 370 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing to see here. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Prices go up when competition declines. Shock and horror expressed by those ignorant of basic economics. Film at 11.

  2. Old News by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Informative
    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:Old News by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Informative

      They agreed to pay $51 million adjusted for inflation.. the seats are for the 2012-2013 timeframe because they've already signed at this price last year - another reason why this is old news.

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. Re:Obvious Question by sycodon · · Score: 4, Informative

    About $75 Million ($450 Million per launch)

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  4. Figure 450 million per shuttle launch by Shivetya · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html

    Funny how it was cheaper to fly as a paid passenger than astronaut.

    --
    * Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
  5. Re:Interesting question would be, by peragrin · · Score: 4, Informative

    It is variable. The shuttle launches 7 not 3 people however the shuttle can also carry literally tons of cargo too something that requires multiple launches with russias design. It is why NASA built the iss. Launching the components is cheaper and more can bedone in any given section with the shuttle.

    So for transporting just new people Soyuz isthe way to go. You needto expand the station the shuttle isbetter

     

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  6. Re:Interesting question would be, by damburger · · Score: 4, Informative

    Don't forget to add in 25t of cargo launched alongside the crew (so no rendezvous needed for a crew+cargo mission). Furthermore, the shuttle payload bay is BIG and can accommodate payloads too large for any other currently flying vehicle.

    --
    If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
  7. Re:Capitalism by sopssa · · Score: 4, Informative

    And this is why US will eventually fall, like every other empire in the human history. Only thing that is needed for it is when China and Taiwan decide to increase their manufacturing prices. It's a bad economy as it is and everyone in the US is getting high pays only because of international loans. You can't live on loans forever - eventually someone will start gathering them back. Since this is politics as well, the only thing needed is to provide manufacturing, product building and technology research cheaper than the US. Oh wait, that's what has been happening for years in India and China and US companies are still going for it.

    You don't need to have a war to win, just collapse the other country.

  8. Re:Why the hell does it cost so much to reach orbi by Smallpond · · Score: 4, Informative

    Problem 1 - the burning fuel is hotter than the melting point of the engines.

    Problem 2 - the engines have to run at sea level and in a vacuum.

    Problem 3 - flying through atmosphere at 2000 MPH

    Problem 4 - getting down

    Get back to me after you think you have those solved cheaply and safely.

  9. Re:Disgraceful! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    We lead the space race, put men on the moon, landers on Mars, explored the furthest reaches of our system, made huge technological breakthroughs via the space race and now we're reduced to begging for rides from the commies?

    What the hell is going on with our country?!

    Yep. America lead the space race.
    1st earth creature in space: Russian Dog.
    1st person in space: Yuri Gagarin (Russian).
    1st person to orbit earth: Yuri Gagarin (Russian, same mission).
    1st woman in space: Valentina Tereshkova (Russian)
    1st space walk: Alexei Leonov (Russian)
    1st man on the moon: Neil Armstrong (American)

    After 5 space firsts by the Russians, America finally beat them to something: the moon.

    1st space station: Salyut 1 (Russian)