WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA says it remains confident about the quality of Russian manned rockets, despite an embarrassing series of glitches and failures in the Russian space program.
A leak developed recently during a test of the next Soyuz capsule scheduled to launch astronauts to the International Space Station. Russian space officials have decided not to use it, so that delays coming launches. This comes after a series of failures in unmanned Russian rockets.
NASA relies solely on Russia to take crews to the space station.
The six crew members at the space station will now spend a few extra weeks in space. NASA space station manager Michael Suffredini said he still considers the Soyuz rocket the world's most reliable space system.
© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.