MOSCOW. Nov 2 (Interfax-AVN) - The partner states involved in the International Space Station (ISS) project may expand the ISS crew beyond the current six astronauts once the U.S. Orion spacecraft and a Russian new-generation space vehicle are brought into service, Alexei Krasnov, chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos' manned programs department, announced Monday.
"If we have the Orion and the Russian new-generation manned transport ship carrying between 4 and 6 people, with flight tests due to begin in 2015, then we will probably consider expanding the ISS crew," Krasnov said during a ceremony in the Moscow State Bauman Technical University, marking the 10th anniversary of the first ISS expedition.
At the same time, he said that the potential expansion of the crew requires a special scientific program involving all astronauts.
"We believe that at present the crew should not exceed 7 persons," Krasnov said.
The ISS has been in operation since 2000. In 2009, its crew was increased from 2-3 to 6 astronauts.