Why NASA Relies on Russia for Space Transportation

Discover why NASA depends on Russia for crew transport to the ISS, even with new companies emerging.

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NASA relies on Russia primarily for access to the International Space Station (ISS). After retiring the Space Shuttle program in 2011, NASA has used Russian Soyuz spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. This partnership ensures continuous human presence on the ISS while also fostering international cooperation in space exploration. This reliance has decreased with new capabilities from private companies like SpaceX, but Russian collaboration remains critical.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the role of Soyuz in NASA's space missions? Soyuz spacecraft have been crucial for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS since the retirement of the Space Shuttle.
  2. How has SpaceX changed NASA's reliance on Russia? With the introduction of crewed missions by SpaceX, NASA's dependence on Russian spacecraft for transportation has started to decrease.
  3. What is the International Space Station? The ISS is a space station where international astronauts live and work, enabling collaboration in research and exploration.