MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st June, 2021) Russian spacecraft manufacturer Energia said on Tuesday it has signed a contract with space company Glavkosmos � both subsidiaries of Russia's state space agency Roscosmos � to build two Soyuz spaceships for tourist flights by December 31, 2023.
"The agreement for the manufacturing and delivery of two Soyuz-MS manned spaceships between Glavkosmos (Customer) and RSC Energia (Supplier)" is estimated at 5 billion rubles ($68 million), according to the manufacturer's website.
In May, Glavkosmos director general Dmitry Loskutov said the company was already in talks with potential space tourists and was simultaneously working on putting together a reserve of Soyuz spaceships to make the first tourist flight possible in late 2023.
Roscosmos itself contracted a tourist Soyuz spaceship in April 2019 for 2.6 billion rubles for a flight to the International Space Station as soon as next September.
