"Ed Kyle" wrote in message
ups.com...
Michael Kent wrote:
Russia has launched and returned from orbit an 18 seat
capacity (some unoccupied on six manned flights during
2003-2005, as well as launching 11 separate Progress
supply missions. The U.S. managed only one semi-successful
mission during the same period carrying six astronauts. I hate
to say it, but we cannot ignore the fact that the U.S. shuttle
killed all of the astronauts it launched in 2003 - more astronauts
in one accident than have ever died in all Russian space
disasters combined.

It has also launched more than twice as much in one launch than any Russian
craft has.

These stats are meaningless. Hard the cargo bay been full of passengers it
wouldn't have changed the overall safety of the program at all.



The fact is that the U.S. space shuttle is a flawed system
that has failed to maintain a U.S. human presence in space,
in stark contrast to Russia's Soyuz system.

Yes, too bad the Russians haven't been able to live up to their promises for
number of Soyuz and Progress craft.