MOSCOW, FEBRUARY 17. /RIA NOVOSTI / -- Russia's European partners are pondering the possibility of their astronauts' participation in long-duration expeditions to the International Space Station, Rosaviakosmos /the Russian Space Agency/ head Yuri Koptev has said on Tuesday.
He explained that the possibility of flights by astronauts from the European Space Agency "under the Russian quota" is in question.
According to the Rosaviakosmos general director, this will attract much larger sums than in the case of short-duration flights to the ISS, including with the participation of what is called "space tourists". The money will go into the development of the Russian ISS segment, said Koptev.
Russia is going to send two manned and four cargo ships to the ISS this year, he also said.
