Russia, U.S. Developing Space Equipment Procurement Plan

MOSCOW. Oct 16 (Interfax) – The Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) and NASA may complete the process of drawing up a program for purchases of Russian space hardware, Alexei Krasnov, a high-ranking Roscosmos official, told a press conference at Mission Control on Saturday.

“We have entered into negotiations on this with our partners. We plan a barter scheme in 2005, and in 2006 we might switch to a purchase mode,” Krasnov said.

In 2006-2009, Russia and the United States “could use both a barter and purchase scheme” under the ISS program, he said.

Russia will be able to clear its debts on the ISS to the U.S. in the near future, Krasnov said.

He also announced a plan to increase the crew working onboard the ISS to six people by the end of 2007.

“To this end, one more Soyuz spacecraft acting as a stand-by rescue craft is needed,” he said.