[FPSPACE] Tito to Alpha ?

[JamesOberg@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/20/00 8:34:54 AM Central Standard Time, 
raoul.lannoy@pandora.be writes: << Very hard to believe it! >>

Not so hard at all. Although NASA is unhappy at the idea, Russia retains full 
authority to choose the occupant of the third Soyuz seat. 

If NASA doesn't want an untrained individual aboard the Node/Lab, that's 
fine, too. All the best windows -- and the toilet -- are in the Russian 
segment. 

Apparently the extra seat on the second Soyuz (November 2001) is taken by a 
French spationaut. And the two swap-Soyuzes in 2002 will be carrying, by 
current plan, full expedition crews, so no extra seats there.

That leaves the option of additional non-swap Soyuzes on dedicated up-down 
missions of several weeks duration, also. 

Yes, it could happen, and it's just as good a reason to send money to Russia, 
as is NASA's long string of "future services" deals to slip extra cash into 
Rosaviakosmos's pocket now and then when things get really desperate.