Russia charging NASA $70 million per rocket seat

Associated Press ^ | Apr 30, 2013 1:23 PM EDT | Marcia Dunn

[Olog-hai]

NASA is blaming Congress for the need to pay $424 million more to Russia to get U.S. astronauts into space.

NASA announced its latest contract with the Russian Space Agency on Tuesday. The $424 million represents flights to and from the International Space Station aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft, as well as training, for six astronauts in 2016 and 2017. That’s $70.6 million per seat—well above the previous price tag of about $63 million. …

[Gaffer]

It is the price we pay for having the black messiah, Obama

[illiac]

“per rocket seat”

Wonder what it costs if they get to ride inside something.....

[ColdOne]

What was the cost of the space shuttle to go up each time?

[rxtn41]

But the money can be rerouted from NASA to food stamps and welfare for illegals....or refugees from the middleeast....feed them while they plan to kill us.

[andyk]

Nothing like getting fleeced by the Russians. Surely we deserve it.

[Olog-hai]

Guess they aren’t busy enough on that Muslim outreach that was mandated by the POTUS . . . ?

[Cyman]

Hey quit implying we are getting cheated. Those return landing astronaut lawn chairs are VERY expensive.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204360/Astronauts-touch-remote-steppe-months-board-International-Space-Station.html

[Red Badger]

They know the printing presses are working overtime in DC......

[True Grit]

Something about this is degrading. The most powerful nation on earth for whatever reason not having its own meanse of space transportation and consequently having to pay the Russians to fill this void.

[Red Badger]

The more we print the more they charge.......

[andyk]

Well said.

[Red Badger]

They have learned capitalism and it works very well........

[Red Badger]

$500 million I seem to recall........

[piytar]

About $450M

[ColdOne]

;)

[MCF]

Obama ended manned space flight when he cancelled the Constellation Project:

http://space.about.com/od/spacemissions/a/The-Constellation-Project.htm

http://space.about.com/od/spacebasics/a/Future-of-Manned-Space-Flight.htm

[SunkenCiv]

The Shuttle (when it was flying) was $500 million per flight, seated seven...

Thanks Olog-hai.

[Oztrich Boy]

The Shuttle (when it was flying) was $500 million per flight, seated seven... with a considerable amount of luggage