NASA set to purchase more Soyuz seats to ensure uninterrupted access to the ISS

[yg1968]

NASA Statement on the purchase of these Soyuz seats:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2020/05/12/nasa-completes-negotiations-for-additional-soyuz-seat-in-fall/

[enzo]

So NASA was careful to mention their "synopsis issued in the fall of 2019", vaguely implying that this was not their fault. Does anyone have more insight? How did this "synopsis" fit into the context of CCtCap? Was this a mere formality, given that NASA already was aware of the number of available flight articles, or lack thereof?

Edit: This is it, I believe. (It seems odd to issue this quasi-RFP when SpaceX and Boeing, the only two who could answer it, were already working with NASA. )
Procurement of Crew Transportation and Rescue Services from ROSCOSMOS https://beta.sam.gov/opp/d7b7aed2f1324b99b76633b1e6afd9e6/view

As a means to mitigate the aforementioned risks, NASA is issuing this synopsis in order to provide notice of the Agency's requirements and to determine whether any other potential sources have the current capability to provide these crew transportation services in the required timeframes.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to provide the crew transportation services. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. The determination of whether or not to acquire these services without competition is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Submissions must be provided in writing to the identified point of contacts not later than 8:00 a.m. local time on December 12, 2019. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. The Government does not intend to acquire the described services as a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

[Sesquipedalian]

I think that, from a legal standpoint, NASA is required to determine that it is not possible to purchase something domestically before purchasing it a foreign government.

[AnalogMan]

The Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) document for the recent contract award to ROSCOMOS has been posted today.

Covers:

• Firm-fixed-priced contract modification to extend the period of performance of the subject contract through December 31, 2025, and procure crew transportation services, which include launch, return, and rescue, for one United States (U. S.) or U. S. designated crewmember to and from the International Space Station (ISS). These services will be necessary for a fall of 2020 Soyuz flight.

• Functional Cargo Block (FGB) Sustaining Engineering through the life of the ISS. The FGB is a Russian-built, but NASA owned ISS module. As such, ROSCOSMOS is uniquely able to access the necessary FGB telemetry to monitor the health of onboard FGB systems, manufacture hardware spares required for continued functionality, and train cosmonauts to perform onboard maintenance tasks to sustain the FGB module.

Contract Award No: NAS1510110340
Total Contract Value: $90252905

Links:

Announcement
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/3582c162a0164d9fa01f97102df3fa1d/view

JOFOC
https://beta.sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/2984e1398a804df9b218c56b6111c9ba/download

(copy also attached)

[Targeteer]

Snarky comment--and US subsidization of the failing Russian space program continues...

[Sesquipedalian]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

[woods170]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

Really? MLM won't lanch until six months after the contracted crew flight in fall 2020. As such this purchase is NOT impacting MLM outfitting.

[Lars-J]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

If these contracts have not been benefiting the Russian human spaceflight program, then they will be happy that this is the last one. I guess the future will tell the final story... If after this Russia scales back human spaceflight, or increases it, will help determine whether it subsidized the program or not.

I have my strong suspicions, but I could certainly be wrong. I hope I am.

[TrevorMonty]

Russia will also lose RD180 sales revenue once Vulcan starts flying.

They are still ISS partners and are critical to operation of station which they can't do without money.

[Nomadd]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

Really? MLM won't lanch until six months after the contracted crew flight in fall 2020. As such this purchase is NOT impacting MLM outfitting.

How long has the MLM been a year from launching now?

[russianhalo117]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

Really? MLM won't lanch until six months after the contracted crew flight in fall 2020. As such this purchase is NOT impacting MLM outfitting.

How long has the MLM been a year from launching now?

Since 1998.

[woods170]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

Really? MLM won't lanch until six months after the contracted crew flight in fall 2020. As such this purchase is NOT impacting MLM outfitting.

How long has the MLM been a year from launching now?

Since 1998.

Not quite that particular year but the general message of your post is correct.

Fact remains that Sesquipedalian is incorrect in reply #45. This additionally bought Soyuz seat will by no means impact the outfitting of MLM. The astronaut taking this seat will be launched to the ISS in fall 2020. He/she will return to Earth 6 months later, in late spring 2021. MLM is not scheduled for launch until well AFTER said astronaut has already returned to Earth.

Therefore, had this seat not been sold to NASA, but had instead been taken up by a Russian cosmonaut, than that cosmonaut would already be back on Earth by the time MLM finally reaches the station. And said cosmonaut is not in a very good position to help outfit MLM when he/she is not actually present on ISS.

[eeergo]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

Really? MLM won't lanch until six months after the contracted crew flight in fall 2020. As such this purchase is NOT impacting MLM outfitting.

How long has the MLM been a year from launching now?

Since 1998.

Not quite that particular year but the general message of your post is correct.

Fact remains that Sesquipedalian is incorrect in reply #45. This additionally bought Soyuz seat will by no means impact the outfitting of MLM. The astronaut taking this seat will be launched to the ISS in fall 2020. He/she will return to Earth 6 months later, in late spring 2021. MLM is not scheduled for launch until well AFTER said astronaut has already returned to Earth.

Therefore, had this seat not been sold to NASA, but had instead been taken up by a Russian cosmonaut, than that cosmonaut would already be back on Earth by the time MLM finally reaches the station. And said cosmonaut is not in a very good position to help outfit MLM when he/she is not actually present on ISS.

There are several EVAs scheduled in order for a Progress to jettison Pirs, and lay the groundwork for Nauka's arrival, before its launch - so yes, it's definitely impacting MLM preparations, even if there are workarounds.

[Nomadd]

There are several EVAs scheduled in order for a Progress to jettison Pirs, and lay the groundwork for Nauka's arrival, before its launch - so yes, it's definitely impacting MLM preparations, even if there are workarounds.

It's hard to know the effects of the cash crunch over there. An extra $90 million on hand could also have an effect on MLM work. Selling the seat could be a net positive as far as getting the module up. Or the guys who launch Soyuz might not like the guys building the MLM that much. I have no idea how the cash flows there.

[woods170]

Is there a Dislike button?

Far from subsidization, this purchase took away a Russian seat that was expected to be used to help outfit the MLM.

Really? MLM won't lanch until six months after the contracted crew flight in fall 2020. As such this purchase is NOT impacting MLM outfitting.

How long has the MLM been a year from launching now?

Since 1998.

Not quite that particular year but the general message of your post is correct.

Fact remains that Sesquipedalian is incorrect in reply #45. This additionally bought Soyuz seat will by no means impact the outfitting of MLM. The astronaut taking this seat will be launched to the ISS in fall 2020. He/she will return to Earth 6 months later, in late spring 2021. MLM is not scheduled for launch until well AFTER said astronaut has already returned to Earth.

Therefore, had this seat not been sold to NASA, but had instead been taken up by a Russian cosmonaut, than that cosmonaut would already be back on Earth by the time MLM finally reaches the station. And said cosmonaut is not in a very good position to help outfit MLM when he/she is not actually present on ISS.

There are several EVAs scheduled in order for a Progress to jettison Pirs, and lay the groundwork for Nauka's arrival, before its launch - so yes, it's definitely impacting MLM preparations, even if there are workarounds.

You assume, incorrectly IMO, that those EVAs were to be co-performed by that now not-flying cosmonaut.

[Kansan52]

Russia, many months ago, reduced the number of cosmonauts going to the ISS. That seems much more likely to hurt the MLM than NASA purchasing another seat.

Plus, Russia must have wanted to sell the seat since they did not say no.

[Khadgars]

Why is the additional seat required?  DM-2 this weekend, Starliner by end of the year?

[Sesquipedalian]

Fact remains that Sesquipedalian is incorrect in reply #45. This additionally bought Soyuz seat will by no means impact the outfitting of MLM. The astronaut taking this seat will be launched to the ISS in fall 2020. He/she will return to Earth 6 months later, in late spring 2021. MLM is not scheduled for launch until well AFTER said astronaut has already returned to Earth.

I stand corrected.

However, my Dislike was aimed at the "and US subsidization of the failing Russian space program continues" comment in the post to which I was replying.  Indeed, the poster admitted it was snarky.

[edzieba]

Why is the additional seat required?  DM-2 this weekend, Starliner by end of the year?

Starliner's first crewed launch is not expected until next year at the earliest, and could potentially be further delayed if any additional issues are uncovered by OFT 2. If DM-2 against all hope experiences an issue that results in delay of USCV-1, then there is the potential for a US residence gap. A Soyuz seat provides insurance against that event.

[Nomadd]

Why is the additional seat required?  DM-2 this weekend, Starliner by end of the year?

Starliner's first crewed launch is not expected until next year at the earliest, and could potentially be further delayed if any additional issues are uncovered by OFT 2. If DM-2 against all hope experiences an issue that results in delay of USCV-1, then there is the potential for a US residence gap. A Soyuz seat provides insurance against that event.

Even if DM-2 is perfect, they'd still like a little redundancy. They've dodged a huge bullet for nine years, depending on one capsule.