I-Russia izonyusa isibalo sokwethulwa komkhumbi-mkhathi we-Soyuz futhi iqalise kabusha ezokuvakasha zasemkhathini ngo-2012, umthombo wemboni yezomkhathi utshele abezindaba ze-Interfax ngoLwesine.
“Kuzoba nemikhumbi-mkhathi emihlanu yaseRussia, esikhundleni semine, kusukela ngo-2012. Imikhumbi-mkhathi emine izokwenza uhlelo lwe-International Space Station, futhi eyodwa izonikezwa izivakashi zasemkhathini,” kusho umthombo ongashayi eceleni.
Ekhuluma esikhungweni sokulawula i-mission uMongameli we-Energia Corporation, u-Vitaly Lopota, uqinisekise izinhlelo zokwandisa isibalo semikhumbi-mkhathi.
"Uma zingekho izinkinga, ukwakhiwa komkhumbi-mkhathi wesihlanu kuzoqala maphakathi nonyaka," kusho uLopota.
Ngo-2009 iRussia isivele yaphinda kabili inani le-Soyuz eqala kabili kuya kwezine, ngenxa yokwanda kwabasebenzi be-ISS kusuka kubantu abathathu kuya kwabayisithupha.
Sekukonke, abavakashi basemkhathini abayisikhombisa bavakashele i-ISS kusukela ngo-2001-2009, kuhlanganise no-American Charles Simonyi, owayenza yaba yi-orbit kabili. Isivakashi sakamuva sasemkhathini, u-Guy Laliberte, uvakashele i-ISS ekupheleni kuka-2009.
