Has China Been Formally Invited to Join the ISS Program? (Another Update)
More Details on Space Discussions during the International Economical Forum in St. Petersburg, Roscosmos
“International Space Station partners have not received any response from China on a proposal to join the ISS program, Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov stated during the International Economical Forum in St. Petersburg. Speaking about Russian role in the program, Perminov reminded that US shuttles are to be retired soon, leaving Soyuz to maintain crew transportation services solely for the ISS, Interfax informs. “This is rather dangerous, any expert recognizes that. There must a backup for the Soyuz. We wish some country would have it, and we contacted China with its human spaceflight program mature enough to maintain crew transportation in the program, asking to join the ISS partnership. However there was no response”, Perminov said.”
Keith’s note: The Roscosmos website is designed a little weird – you can’t directly link to some things. To see the original source for this article, go to this page and then go to “all news” and click on “More Details on Space Discussions during the International Economical Forum in St. Petersburg”
Keith’s 25 Jun update: According to NASA PAO, NASA issued the following statement this morning: “NASA has confirmed with the director of the Russian Federal Space Agency’s human space flight program that Russia has not issued an invitation to China to join the International Space Station program.”
Roscosmos: Chinese Space Vehicles Could Fly to the ISS, Roscosmos
“09.07.2010: Chinese space vehicles meet all safety requirements to provide redundancy for Soyuzes and Progresses during missions to the International Space Station, Anatoly Perminov, Roscosmos Head told RIA Novosti. According to him, the Chinese can support the program after shuttle retirement in 2011, when Russia remains the only country to maintain ISS crew rotation. “This is rather tough, so Russia is interested in backup Chinese vehicles”, Perminov said. Five ISS partners have not received any answer from China for the proposal to join the program. “Administrator of the Chinese Space Administration has quit, and the new one has not been appointed yet. So, the issue is still open”, Perminov concluded.”
Keith’s 8 Jul update: This story appeared on the Roscosmos website (again it is hard to link directly to their translated articles) dated 9 July 2010. Is this just more bad translation, a game the Russians like to play, or is there actually some truth to this?
