NASA to pay Russia for rocket trips - Breaking News - World - Breaking News

The United States will pay Russia $US21.8 million ($A29.19 million) per astronaut for a lift aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station.

The fare is slightly more than the world's first "space tourists" forked out for a ride into space with the Russian craft.

With its shuttle fleet grounded and no other vehicles available to serve as space station rescue boats, NASA had no choice but to pay Russia for transportation or abandon the half-built orbital outpost.