Bob Haller wrote:

Note: No one ever talks of a full crew of 3, now talk is at best what
can we get away with...

soyuz progress could help support shuttles immediate retirement,
although it will probably have to fly once more, and shed some more
foam to kill the program properly.

given shuttles trouble I HOPE progress soyuz production is ramped up.
for emergencies. having a couple nearly finshed in stock can save
lives..

Or : http://webpages.charter.net/tsiolkovsky/rocket.htm