Global General

Russians concerned about private US spacecraft

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-23 18:05

MOSCOW - Russian news agencies are quoting a top space official as saying Russia won't permit a US commercial spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station until it is satisfied the ship conforms to safety standards.

The California-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp has asked NASA for permission to send an unmanned cargo capsule to the space station later this year. The hookup also would need Russian clearance.

Alexei Krasnov, supervisor of manned missions at the Russian Space Agency, was quoted as saying Friday that safety concerns first need to be addressed.

SpaceX's Dragon capsule made the world's first private trip to and from orbit in December. It blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket.