Question about the space station

BOBBYWINS

Now,if I understand this right,there are people living on the space station,right?

Have these folks been stranded up there for 2 1/2 years or how long do they stay at a stretch?

I've also been told that they have been switching out with the Russians.Is this true?

If so,how the hell are the Russians gettin' back and forth??

BW

IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.

chunkstyle

The Russians use Soyuz space capsules. These hold 3 astronaut/cosmonauts, so one flys the new 2-person crew up, then the old one down. Crews typically rotate every 6 months. If the shuttle were active again, 3-person crews would be used. For resupply, the Russians send up "Progress" unmanned cargo ships. These are then filled with trash and sent through the atmosphere to burn up. Resupply happens every 3 months or so.

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forthhorseman

The current two man crews always consist of one American and one Russian who go up together on a Russian Soyuz space capsule launched from Kazakstan, which is one of the former Soviet republics bordering on Russia, where the Soviets had their main launch port. The Russians now lease the launch facility from the Kazaks.