1 The Russian Federal Space Agency's website is carrying a statement (see link) saying that its head Anatoly Perminov knew nothing of this agreement you publicised between you and Roscosmos for your private flight. How do you respond to this?
Your interpretation of the statement is incorrect. What the statement suggests is that Perminov had not been informed of any specific plan or date for Brin to fly to the ISS, such as whether he might be the next client who will fly in April 2009. In fact, Perminov is precisely correct because we have not forwarded Brin's name to FSA for a specific flight date. He has not yet identified a particular mission, as stated in our press release.
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=3551
2 With the private flight surely you can only go to the station during the two week periods when one crew has returned to Earth and the ascending crew that will make the ISS compliment six again are yet to launch?
3 If not then, what docking port would you use?
This answer is for #2 and #3 -- there are several logistical scenarios under which these types of missions can be conducted, and they depend on a wide range of factors between now and 2011 -- when the mission profile has been selected, we will discuss it.
4 Won't NASA's Houston mission control have to be involved in your private mission, just as Houston is involved in ESA's ATV missions?
This mission, like any mission that visits the ISS, will be coordinated through the various ISS partners, as appropriate.
5 can you give an idea of the order of magnitude of the cost of buying an Energia Soyuz spacecraft, a Samara Space Center Soyuz booster, hiring the Baikonur launch pad and launch control time and paying for the Soyuz commander training/time for this flight?
Unfortunately, we are unable to discuss this information in detail, but "the order of magnitude" costs of human spaceflight on various systems are widely know, and have been increasing annually.
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=3551
2 With the private flight surely you can only go to the station during the two week periods when one crew has returned to Earth and the ascending crew that will make the ISS compliment six again are yet to launch?
3 If not then, what docking port would you use?
This answer is for #2 and #3 -- there are several logistical scenarios under which these types of missions can be conducted, and they depend on a wide range of factors between now and 2011 -- when the mission profile has been selected, we will discuss it.
4 Won't NASA's Houston mission control have to be involved in your private mission, just as Houston is involved in ESA's ATV missions?
This mission, like any mission that visits the ISS, will be coordinated through the various ISS partners, as appropriate.
5 can you give an idea of the order of magnitude of the cost of buying an Energia Soyuz spacecraft, a Samara Space Center Soyuz booster, hiring the Baikonur launch pad and launch control time and paying for the Soyuz commander training/time for this flight?
Unfortunately, we are unable to discuss this information in detail, but "the order of magnitude" costs of human spaceflight on various systems are widely know, and have been increasing annually.
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