News Russia to produce 5th Soyuz each year

[Orbinaut Pete]

Now THIS IS an interesting development! A 5th Soyuz each year available for "commercial purposes" - such as Canada launching its own astronauts to the ISS! IMHO, the ESA need to buy this 5th Soyuz quickly - just imagine, launching ESA astronauts to the ISS aboard an ESA Soyuz from the ESA Soyuz launch site at the Kourou Space Center in French Guyana – ESA would practically have their own space program!!! :speakcool: :woohoo:

Before the end of 2010, Roscosmos is to transfer advanced payment to RSC-Energia to build the 5th Soyuz-TMA crew vehicle, Head of Roscosmos Human Space Flight Directorate Alexey Krasnov told news media at the press conference in the Mission Control Center after the docking of Soyuz TMA-19 to the ISS.
Currently, Energia builds 4 crew Soyuzes per year, under the Federal Space Program, to maintain ISS crew rotation. The 5th Soyuz annually is needed for commercial purposes.
"RSC-Energie need the 5th Soyuz to enter commercial space services market. We were requested about launching their astronauts to the ISS in Russian vehicles by Canadian Space Agency. We would have this opportunity with the 5th Soyuz", Krasnov stated.

Source.

 

[lennartsmit]

It sounds cool. I hope ESA will take advantage of this. However with the euro-crisis going on I don't think Germany or France will be very interested in large expenses like this.

 

[ddom2006]

France might look at investing in the idea, they've actually increased their spending on the ESA this year, one of the few member nations to do so.

 

[tblaxland]

Aren't ESA more likely to develop their own manned vehicle? IIRC, they like to spend their money back in their members' countries.

 

[ddom2006]

In time perhaps, but a proven reliable technology capable of launching from French spaceports available within the year? I can't see the ESA walking away from such an opportunity.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

How about all the smaller ISS International Partners team up in a joint venture and share the cost? The 3 extra Soyuz seats a year could be occupied by 1 ESA, 1 CSA & 1 JAXA astronaut.
All Soyuz's need a Russian CDR, so it would be impossible to have all 3 IP astronauts on one flight. But flying a Russian CDR on the extra Soyuz would free up a previously Russian-occupied seat on another Soyuz, so it would still work out at 3 extra seats per year, even if they weren't all on the same flight.

I bet the Russian Cosmonauts aren't complaining about this - it's guaranteed extra flights for them!

We also need more Soyuz docking ports on the ISS, methinks.

---------- Post added at 01:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:44 AM ----------

This article is from a while back, but it's definitely still relevant:

BBC News: "Europe looks to buy Soyuz craft".

 

[garyw]

And that is how you do commercial spaceflight. None of this stopping flying what you have and handing it all over to the commercial sector.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

And that is how you do commercial spaceflight. None of this stopping flying what you have and handing it all over to the commercial sector.

Its ironic how Russia are now giving the West a lesson in capitalism, isn't it?!

 

[anemazoso]

Its ironic how Russia are now giving the West a lesson in capitalism, isn't it?!

Ya well, SpaceX is about to teach them a thing or two.

 

[Urwumpe]

Ya well, SpaceX is about to teach them a thing or two.

I would say the 492 million USD contract with Iridium is too good to go boasting with it.

But it really gives you a good feeling that spaceflight is not dead yet.

 

[Tycho]

I've read somewhere that Space Adventures plans to use the extra flights to resume orbital tourism to the ISS which they had to discontinue due to the increase in the ISS crew from three to six. Right now, all three seats on every soyuz flight are occupied by expedition crew.

Update: Here's an article http://adm.rt.tv/Top_News/2010-03-18/russia-space-tourist-resume.html

 

[anemazoso]

This whole thing makes me think NASA is now partly funding it with the higher prices they are paying. I have no evidence of this but it will be interesting to see how much they sell the seats for.

So how much does it cost to produce a manned Soyuz?

 

[Tycho]

So how much does it cost to produce a manned Soyuz?

Probably a good 60-70 million USD. Don't quote me, but that's my guess.

 

[SiberianTiger]

So how much does it cost to produce a manned Soyuz?

I have no fresh info, but in the prices of 2000, the breakdown was like:

Operation|Cost, million roubles
Soyuz TM unit production|103.4
Launch operations|17.8
Propellants for the launch|1.0
2 individual crewmember equipment kits|9.0
TOTAL|131.2

Inflation in Russia between 2000 and 2010 has totalled to 2.55 times increase and the today's exchange rate RUB/USD is 31.20, so... Should be like $10.7 million.

That, of course, is a very mundane economic calculation, not taking into account any affecting market changes.

 

[Tycho]

Additionally, in 2000, the current model was Soyuz-TM. TMA likely costs differently.

EDIT: 10 million USD sounds about right for manufacturing. I included launch and everything in my estimate, which the commercial buyer will likely have to pay for.

 

[SiberianTiger]

EDIT: 10 million USD sounds about right for manufacturing. I included launch and everything in my estimate, which the commercial buyer will likely have to pay for.

Don't forget that while being the absolute monopoly in commercial manned orbital craft producing, Energia may simply estimate how much the few potential clients they need can afford to pay and make this number the price tag.

I'm afraid when commercial launchers and manned capsules really enter the scene, this dinosaur immediately goes bancrupt (taking Soyuzes with it...)

 

[Tycho]

I'm afraid when commercial launchers and manned capsules really enter the scene, this dinosaur immediately goes bancrupt (taking Soyuzes with it...)

...And crippling Energia's primary customers in the process (Russian FSA). I certainly hope that this will not be the case.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Europe, Canada eye extra Soyuz for station access:

European and Canadian space officials are in talks with Russia to purchase dedicated Soyuz capsules to ferry their astronauts to the International Space Station.

The discussions focus on continuing crew transportation services after 2015, and possibly expanding European and Canadian astronaut access to the orbiting lab before then.

 

[N_Molson]

Looks like there is enough demand for 6 Soyuz / year :thumbup:

 

[Tycho]

Looks like there is enough demand for 6 Soyuz / year :thumbup:

I definitely think that this is a feasible possibility. One extra for the ESA or CSA, and another for Space Adventures or another company interested in tourism. If the required funds are provided, it is a realistic possibility.