Topic: Senate Clears NASA to Buy Russian Spaceships

[Nemesis]

Link to full article

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved Sept. 21 a bill that would clear the way for NASA to buy the Russian Soyuz vehicles it needs to continue to occupy the International Space Station beyond this year.

The bill was introduced Sept. 15 by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) to provide temporary relief from provisions in the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 that bar U.S. purchases of Russian human spaceflight hardware as long as Russia continues to help Iran in its pursuit of nuclear know-how and advanced weapons technology.

Lugar’s bill, S. 1713, changes the law to permit NASA to buy any Russian space hardware or services it needs for the International Space Station program until 2012.

[Tus-XC]

nothing new really, the AF buys the engines for the Atlas V from the russians (well i should say Lockhead Martin does)

[prometheus]

It's a good idea...  It means the US can maintain a presence on the ISS and in space while a replacement for the shuttle is being designed...