when astronauts go up, they fly in US space shuttles, but are there Russian space shuttles? If not do the Russians always fly up on US shuttles? I saw that Russia discontinued their shuttle program in 1993, so whats the deal?
2007-02-27 15:28:58 · 4 answers · asked by king of the burbs 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
" When the Shuttles are grounded, which happens quite frequently,... "
Twice is not frequently.
2007-02-27 20:44:43 · answer #1 · answered by Holden 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They fly on an uprated "Soyuz" spacecraft. The Soyuz has been the Russian space workhorse since 1967. That's how flights to the ISS continued whilst the US Shuttle was grounded. An unmanned version called "Progress" flies supplies to and removes trash from the ISS.
2007-02-27 17:36:06 · answer #2 · answered by kwilfort 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Russia had only 1 shuttle, and one unmanned shuttle flight.
The Soyuz spacecraft has been the workhorse for the Russian space program for over 30 years.
They were setting manned space flight duration records in them long befire they even had the Mir station.
2007-02-27 15:35:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Russians use rockets and capsules. It is old but reliable technology. When the Shuttles are grounded, which happens quite frequently, the Russians keep sending up the capsules. They can dock with the ISS, transfer personnel and return to earth with relative safety.
2007-02-27 15:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by tentofield 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋