What was the approximate historical per-seat cost NASA paid Russia for a Soyuz ride in 2018?
Answer
$86 million
Before the Commercial Crew Program vehicles became operational, NASA relied on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for crew transport following the retirement of the Space Shuttle. In 2018, the reported payment rate to Russia for a Soyuz seat was approximately $86 million. This historical cost provides a clear baseline against which the new commercial provider costs are measured, highlighting significant taxpayer savings when utilizing SpaceX.
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