Posts: 595
From: County Down,Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002

posted October 27, 2007 05:25 AM               

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I seem to recall that during the Mir Days each cosmonaut negotiated a financial contract before launch and in what they would do and how much they would get paid. If the cosmonaut failed to complete a task they were punished financially etc. Or if they did well they were rewarded and had the chance to earn bonuses. This contract was negotiated with Energyia the rocket producer. This contract often worked cosmonauts to the breaking point. Especially aboard MIR which almost everyday produced a new set of difficulties to overcome. I was just wondering if this contract system still continues for cosmonauts on the ISS?

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Posts: 566
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted October 27, 2007 11:03 AM               

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I believe they have gotten rid of that system for ISS, mainly since the crews are so cosmonaut and astronaut integrated now with the commanders alternating between Russian and American.

Concerning the pay rates though, there is still a difference. If a cosmonaut is living in Star City and launches to the ISS on a Soyuz, he gets his normal cosmonaut pay. If he goes to Houston and flies into space on the shuttle, then his pay from what I have read goes up to the level that US trained astronauts make for the duration of his duties in the US.

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