Along with all the other dumb things this adm is doing, paying the Russians 72 m per ride is just one more on a long list. The Boeing x37b proposal to use it for getting to ISS should be implemented. A summary of the logic is provided by Frank Buzzard.
The x37-b is a fine spacecraft. However it is MUCH smaller than space Shuttle. It was deliberately designed to not have the extra weight, life support, and astronaut flying capabilites. So to add humans would take 5-7 years and significantly modify the design and add a lot of weight meaning much less cargo. Having said that, It could with enough NASA money be modified to carry about 3, maybe four humans into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Right now NASA is spending $500 Million per year to entice 3 companies to provide commercial crew service to ISS. So contrast that with the NASA budget of $2.8 Billion in 2014 to build the new rocket (Space Launch System SLS and Orion crew capsule) and capsule to go to an asteroid. That is nearly SIX times more to build a new NASA rocket and capsule that does not go to ISS!! Does that balance make sense. Is LEO commercial transportation to ISS an important objective of NASA compared to what they are spending to a maybe futurestunt to return an asteroid rock by humans?
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