Sep 13 2008
How Do We Get to the ISS after the Shuttle Fleet is grounded
The Shuttle fleet is currently scheduled to be grounded in the year 2010. The Crew Exploration Vehicle, which is the replacement for the Space Shuttle, will not be ready for service until 2014. That leaves a few years in between where the United States will not have the capabilities themselves to travel to the International Space Station.
During those years the United States will need to rely on the Russian space program and their Soyuz spacecraft that can transport astronauts to and from the ISS. Right now the United States is only eligible to participate in the Soyuz missions through a waiver that was passed by congress. The wavier is due to expire in the year 2011. Measures are being taken now by congress to extend this wavier so that the US will continue to have access to the ISS until the Crew Exploration Vehicle is put into service.
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