Posted: Fri, Mar 26, 2004, 10:24 AM ET (1524 GMT)
NASA is considering leaving the same crew on the International Space Station for a full year to cope with financial difficulties with the Russian space program, MSNBC reported late Thursday. Under the proposal the Expedition 10 crew scheduled to fly to the station in October would remain on the station for up to a full year. According to the report Russian officials said that the only way they can afford to fly a Soyuz taxi mission to the station in April 2005 is if it carries two tourists or other paying passengers, which would leave no room on the spacecraft for a relief crew. Although NASA plans to return the shuttle to flight in March 2005, thus eliminating the need to use the Soyuz taxi flights to rotate crews, NASA officials said they have to prepare for the possibility that the shuttle will be further delayed, requiring the Expedition 10 crew to remain on the station for up to a full year. The Expedition 10 crew is currently slated to be Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov, although MSNBC reports that Chiao is unwilling to spend a full year on the station, which could require NASA and Russia to name a new crew within the next few weeks.

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•  MSNBC article