NASA has signed a $719 million extension of the International Space Station contract with Russia's Federal Space Agency for services through 2011.
The extension covers crew rotations for 15 crew members, six in 2009, six in 2010 and three in 2011, as well as the delivery and removal of 5.6 metric tons of cargo. U.S. commercial orbital transportation services are still planned to provide the bulk of cargo transportation needs from 2010 and beyond to the space station.
With the modification, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration also is purchasing the capability for Russian spacecraft to carry 1.4 metric tons of NASA cargo to the space station beginning in 2010.
The contract covers work performed in Russia and Kazakhstan, on board the International Space Station, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
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