wrote:

The BBC is reporting that after the 2006 contract completion, the
Russian space agency will only fly US astronauts on a commercial basis.
They didn't say whether it is RKS, Energia or other institute saying
no, I'm assuming RKS or whatever their called now.

This seems like a good opportunity for the America's Space Prize or a
"fasttrack" CEV like the t/Space proposal.

Neither will be viable by 2006.

alternatively an excellent excuse to abandon the station.

We can hope.

Paul