NASA is asking for $ 490 million for the extension of the contract with Roskosmos – BBC Russian

NASA management has asked the US Congress to allocate an additional $ 490 million for the delivery of astronauts to the ISS on the Russian “Soyuz”.

As noted in a letter to the director of NASA, Charles Bolden These funds are needed to pay for the six flights of American astronauts who will travel to the station until 2017.

Bolden also notes that the US Congress did not pay enough attention to the development of commercial space launch program, so NASA management has to renew the contract with Roscosmos.

Earlier, NASA asks the US government funds to support space projects of private companies Space X and Boeing.

American astronauts began to fly to the station on Russian ships in 2012 after the shuttle was discontinued operation.