Despite Waiver, NASA To Stop Using Russian Cargo Vehicle

By Brian Berger, Space News Staff Writer Unmanned Russian cargo ships like this Progress 28 resupply vehicle, shown leaving the International Space Station ion April 7, 2008, routinely launch fresh food, fuel and other vital supplies to the orbiting lab atop Russian-built Soyuz rockets. Credit: NASA WASHINGTON — NASA has no intention of paying Russia to help deliver supplies to the international space station (ISS) beyond 2011 despite winning congressional and presidential approval to do so. "NASA's policy has not changed," NASA spokesman David Steitz said Oct. 2. "NASA will rely on U.S. commercial cargo services to resupply ISS following retirement of the shuttle, and does not intend to purchase Progress cargo services after 2011." The U.S. space agency's recommitment to the guiding principal of its Commercial Orbital... [read full story]