By Alissa De Carbonnel – Russia holds a monopoly on flights to and from the 16-nation station. Soyuz launches from its Baikonur cosmodrome are now the only way to space since the United States retired its 30-year shuttle program in July.
NASA pays it more than $50 million per flight to send its astronauts to the space outpost.
Russian space agency Roskosmos would narrow its focus to satellite communication, navigation systems and meterological study.
As the initial rapture with space station has faded, critics say Russia’s reliance on the Soyuz as a cash cow has too long absorbed the agency’s attentions and stunted innovation. more> http://is.gd/oajMsR
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