The United States intends to order in Russia manufacture of spacecraft “union” to deliver its astronauts to the International Space Station 2020 year due to the delay in the production of US commercial spacecraft, RIA Novosti reported, citing a source in the space industry.
Its production and the flight to the ISS fully pay for the American side. The crew will include two American astronaut. Steer the ship will be Russian cosmonaut - the source added.
Planned contract between Boeing Corporation and RSC "Energia"; such an agreement was concluded for the delivery of US astronauts 2018 and the first half of 2019 of the year.
For the conclusion of the contract will require permission from US lawmakers, which can make a criticism of NASA dependence on Russia.
However, problems may arise from the Russian side - it was reported in April, that the government supposedly banned Roskosmos sign legally binding documents with states, which imposed sanctions against Russia.
earlier “Roskomose” feared, what in 2019 the US will be put into operation their ships and ensure its independence from Russia in the issue of astronauts into space.
