Purpose: Saving Money

It's the sort of reasoning we on Earth can certainly understand. If you want to save money on travel, make fewer trips, right?

That's the line of thinking at Russia's cash-strapped space agency, where officials Tuesday announced plans to extend astronauts' stays aboard the International Space Station by six months -- effectively doubling the tour of duty.

"The Russian side has sent a suggestion to NASA to prolong the work of the main crew from six months to a year," Sergei Gorbunov, spokesman for Russia's space agency, said by telephone.

NASA's input on this may be academic at this point, since the shuttle fleet has remained grounded since February 1st, 2003, when the Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry. The remaining shuttle's return to flight has been delayed from this fall until at least Spring of next year.

In the meantime, Russia's Soyuz program is the only game in town -- unless, of course, you count the Chinese variant.

"After the loss of the shuttle, Russia lost a part of its extra-budget funds, therefore we are suggesting this option." said Gorbunov.

He also suggested astronauts would benefit from spending longer on the orbital platform and their health would not be damaged. "The crew does not have enough time to carry out all their tasks in six months. That is why the term should be extended. Doctors allow people to spend this much time in space. It does not affect health in any way."

So far, there's been no comment from NASA. The longest stay in space to date is 438 days. The record was set by Valery Polyakov, during his stay aboard the Mir Space Station in 1994 and 1995.

FMI: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/station