Moscow Now Charging To Deliver Crew, Supplies To ISS

It's come down to this: an ultimatum from Moscow.

"If the Americans want to fly Soyuz (spacecraft) in 2005, they will have to compensate us the costs," space agency head Anatoly Perminov said, quoted in the ITAR-Tass news agency.

Russia and the US originally agreed to split the costs of getting crew and materials to the International Space Station. But that was before the February, 2002 Colubmia disaster. Since then, the only missions that have flown to the station have been flown by Russian spacecraft.

The Russians say that means, every time a Progress resupply ship blasts off for the ISS, it costs about $22 million. It costs a bit more to send a manned Soyuz ship. Every year, it takes at least three Progress ships and two Soyuz capsules to keep the station manned.

The Russians and the Americans have long been at odds over who should pay what for these missions.

The shuttle is scheduled to fly again next year, but more safety issues could cause more delays. The European Space Agency (ESA) is working on its own version of an ISS resupply vessel, but there's no immediate indication when it will be ready for launch.

Gee, do you think they'll take a check?

FMI: www.nasa.gov, www.rosaviakosmos.ru/english/eindex.htm