Which American commercial crew vehicle began regular operations around 2020, marking the end of exclusive Soyuz reliance?
Answer
SpaceX's Crew Dragon
The operational commencement of SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle fundamentally altered the dynamic of crew rotation to the International Space Station. Crew Dragon provided a reliable, domestic alternative for ferrying NASA personnel, allowing the agency to transition away from sole reliance on the Russian system. This transition occurred around 2020, coinciding with NASA utilizing its final pre-purchased Soyuz seats, thereby concluding the era where one nation held the singular responsibility for crew transportation access to the orbiting laboratory for the entire international contingent.
Related Questions
What was the most cited figure for a single NASA seat aboard a Soyuz mission following the Space Shuttle retirement?What inherent lack of reusability in the crew segment significantly raises the recurring Soyuz cost per flight?Which American commercial crew vehicle began regular operations around 2020, marking the end of exclusive Soyuz reliance?What component system sometimes approached the price of a single Soyuz crew seat in certain analyses?How did the early commercial Crew Dragon per-seat price generally compare to the established Soyuz rate of $80 million?What services were encapsulated within the $80 million fee NASA paid for a Soyuz seat?Following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, approximately how long did NASA rely on Soyuz for crew transport?The consistent pricing of the Soyuz program reflects an amortization schedule based on what key historical factor?How does the philosophy behind newer commercial vehicles contrast with the largely expendable Soyuz operational model?What is the massive long-term budgetary implication if agencies secure reliable transport for substantially less money per astronaut?