April 30, 2013

Joshua Buck Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100 jbuck@nasa gov

Josh Byerly Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 josh byerly@nasa gov

CONTRACT RELEASE: C13-027

NASA EXTENDS CREW FLIGHT CONTRACT WITH RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY

WASHINGTON -- NASA has signed a $424 million modification to its contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) for full crew transportation services to the International Space Station in 2016 with return and rescue services extending through June 2017

NASA is facilitating development of a U S commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and low-Earth orbit beginning in 2017 This modification to the Roscosmos contract will ensure continued U S presence aboard the space station as NASA prepares for commercial crew providers to begin those transportation operations

NASA is committed to launching U S astronauts aboard domestic spacecraft as soon as possible Full funding of the administration's Fiscal Year 2014 budget request is critical to making these domestic capabilities possible by 2017

This firm-fixed price modification covers comprehensive Soyuz support, including all necessary training and preparation for launch, flight operations, landing and rescue of six space station crew members on long-duration missions It also includes additional launch site support, which was provided previously under a separate contract The modification will allow for a lead time of about three years Roscosmos needs to build additional Soyuz vehicles These services will provide transportation to and from the International Space Station for U S , and Canadian, European or Japanese astronauts

Comments about the contract from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden are available on the agency's administrator blog page at:

http://go nasa gov/g4C5Ov

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

For information about other NASA programs and missions, visit:

http://www nasa gov

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