"Perminov plans to go in the middle of December on an official visit to the United States at NASA invitation. The RSA head is expected to make a report in the US Congress on progress in the construction and further exploitation of the International Space Station as well as to discuss the sale of Russia's cargo Progress rockets and Soyuz spaceships for carrying new crews to the International Space Station," said Davidenko.
The purchase of foreign space technology is restricted in the United States by the so-called Jackson-Vanick amendment. Meanwhile, Russian vehicles are the only means of delivery of crews and cargo to the International Space Station after the accident with the American Columbia shuttle on February 1, 2003.
RIA Novosti had been formerly informed by Alexey Krasnov, the head of the Russian Space Agency's piloted programmes, that Russia and NASA would work out by 2006 a scheme of the USA's purchase of Soyuz spaceships and other technology for the International Space Station.
"The scheme of our relationships with NASA will be based on both barter and purchases. It is likely to meet Russia's expenses on the delivery of crews and cargo to the station from 2006 to 2009 as shuttle flights are not available," he said.
The crew of the International Space Station is planned to be increased to six people as is provided for under international agreements. "But this is possible only when the ISS will have two rescue spaceships Soyuz at its side rather than only one as is the case now," he added.
Today Russia is the sole financier and carrier of crews and cargo to the ISS, according to Krasnov. "The USA could make up for Russia's spending by the purchase of two Soyuzes," he noted.
