Proton will not suite at least for manned flight launch - it's over g (overload) during launch is more than man could stand - so it is used for unmanned launches only.
there is Angara launcher which could be used as a replacement for Proton ( and is a bit more powerfull
and which is safier for environment and could be used
to launch manned spacecrafts.
But I'm not sure as it requires computations if the rocet will suite to launch souz to moon orbit and have enouth fuel to return it back.
actually russians could renew Energia for the 100 mln us dollars ( there were plans in 1999 which were announced by Kazahstan prezident Nazarbaev see in russian http://www.avia.ru/cgi/news/news.cgi?action=get6&i d=924782310)
maybe price has changed since then back in 90 s there were plans to enhance Energia to lift to available by Energia 100 tons on LEO to 180 tons delivered to LEO so the launcher has a potentia
still russians have no much ideas to use the launcher ( it is too heavy for regular operations)
I do not think that tourist would be enought source of funds to revive the complete infrustructure to produce this launcher.
But it is possible. as still it is relativly inexpensive to use old development of russian space industry.
But are americans intrested:) to invest ?
The reason is the same as the answer of the question - why americans ( knowing that they could support russian production of spacecrafts just after the loss of shuttle when the matters were tought) did not do that.
the problem is - the US law prohibits to finance russian space industry as it somehow has links to iranian tech programs ( and us law respects any contacts in tech with iranians which allegedly , tend to develop nuke (or the don't as they say and claim that they just want nuclear power plant?)
but anyhow - nasa knows that it is cheaper,
but reluctunce to lend russians a hand in past led to that russinas started to offer tech to iranians and then were punished for that for long ( but hey here we want to eat... and in 90 s there were NO finacial sources for most russian tech developments)
so here is a sort of a dead lock and the most problem that US still treats russians as not friends for this simple reason - there are always tentions.
but if to return to the theme - nasa
cannot finance russian space program and the law will not be chaged ( it was discussed after shuttle crash - but nasa was told no chanse...) ( for example it took almost 10 years after russia become democratic that JACKSON-VENIK amendment ( which clued trade restrictions with immigration from russia and since then for ex almost half of Israelis had origins from former ussr and maybe you know quite a bit of russians around you in us;)) restrictions on trade with russia were lifted )
it is just seems - US politics is not about to look for the friendship with russians ( what ever you hear from politicians there are a lot probs here and there esp in trade etc).
it is long story with many different aspects being involved why this situation has to be.
I think the discussion on these issues would be complete offtopic - but
again
the answer on your quesion is - currently US cannot not buy or fund production of rissian souz es due to law.
Btw it is intesting how the company in the topic ( which seems to be US based) is intended to order souzes ( as it is prohibited by anti_nuke_to_ iranians law not only to nasa ) ?
Slashdot Mirror
Proton will not suite at least for manned flight launch - it's over g (overload) during launch is more than man could stand - so it is used for unmanned launches only. there is Angara launcher which could be used as a replacement for Proton ( and is a bit more powerfull and which is safier for environment and could be used to launch manned spacecrafts. But I'm not sure as it requires computations if the rocet will suite to launch souz to moon orbit and have enouth fuel to return it back.
actually russians could renew Energia for the 100 mln us dollars ( there were plans in 1999 which were announced by Kazahstan prezident Nazarbaev see in russian http://www.avia.ru/cgi/news/news.cgi?action=get6&i d=924782310)
maybe price has changed since then back in 90 s there were plans to enhance Energia to lift to available by Energia 100 tons on LEO to 180 tons delivered to LEO so the launcher has a potentia
still russians have no much ideas to use the launcher ( it is too heavy for regular operations)
I do not think that tourist would be enought source of funds to revive the complete infrustructure to produce this launcher.
But it is possible. as still it is relativly inexpensive to use old development of russian space industry.
But are americans intrested :) to invest ?
oops first post to slashdot :) ... next time will use preview and edit. But hope ideas of the post ( though there are some
bugs in text) are clear.
The reason is the same as the answer of the question - why americans ( knowing that they could support russian production of spacecrafts just after the loss of shuttle when the matters were tought) did not do that. the problem is - the US law prohibits to finance russian space industry as it somehow has links to iranian tech programs ( and us law respects any contacts in tech with iranians which allegedly , tend to develop nuke (or the don't as they say and claim that they just want nuclear power plant?) but anyhow - nasa knows that it is cheaper, but reluctunce to lend russians a hand in past led to that russinas started to offer tech to iranians and then were punished for that for long ( but hey here we want to eat... and in 90 s there were NO finacial sources for most russian tech developments) so here is a sort of a dead lock and the most problem that US still treats russians as not friends for this simple reason - there are always tentions. but if to return to the theme - nasa cannot finance russian space program and the law will not be chaged ( it was discussed after shuttle crash - but nasa was told no chanse...) ( for example it took almost 10 years after russia become democratic that JACKSON-VENIK amendment ( which clued trade restrictions with immigration from russia and since then for ex almost half of Israelis had origins from former ussr and maybe you know quite a bit of russians around you in us ;)) restrictions on trade with russia were lifted )
it is just seems - US politics is not about to look for the friendship with russians ( what ever you hear from politicians there are a lot probs here and there esp in trade etc).
it is long story with many different aspects being involved why this situation has to be.
I think the discussion on these issues would be complete offtopic - but
again
the answer on your quesion is - currently US cannot not buy or fund production of rissian souz es due to law.
Btw it is intesting how the company in the topic ( which seems to be US based) is intended to order souzes ( as it is prohibited by anti_nuke_to_ iranians law not only to nasa ) ?