US & Russia Agree To Swap Seats On Their Flights To International Space Station

While the US and Russia may not be on the best terms here on Earth, it seems the two nations are faring better with their relations in space. 

NASA and Roscosmos have recently announced that both parties have signed an agreement to swap seats on flights to the International Space Station (ISS), allowing US astronauts to go onboard the Soyuz, and Russian cosmonauts to hitch a ride on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.

Speaking to The New York Times, NASA says the deal will protect against unforeseen circumstances, including problems with spacecraft, serious medical issues, or an emergency aboard the station that requires the crew to return to Earth sooner than anticipated. 

The first swapped flight is scheduled for September this year, and Anna Kikina will be the first Russian to fly onboard a Crew Dragon alongside NASA’s Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. 

Engadget notes that the agreement essentially ensures both segments on the space station will never be left unmanned. Interestingly, no money will be paid to either party, which is certainly a better deal than when NASA used to cough up US$56 million for a seat onboard Russian spacecraft. 

As NASA points out to the Times, neither agency “has the capability to function independent of the others,” and no doubt requires “contributions from each space agency” to run as smoothly as possible.

[via Engadget and The New York Times, cover image via Archangel80889 | Dreamstime.com]