That's getting serious. You're right, it's the only access the US has to ISS.

When Ronnie Reagan wanted the biggest orbiting residence for astronauts I doubt he had in mind that the US would be dependent upon the Russians to get back and forth to in 31 years later.

I'm sure there is a glossy PR handout by NASA, et alia, on how it's not bad, private enterprise will take up the slack, this is simply a transition from federally funded exploration to capitalism, and there's not much for men to do in LEO. None of the drugs which would cure cancer, or the other drugs which would come from weightless research have come true, LEO isn't such a great thing. And the ISS hasn't been a cornucopia of scientific discoveries either, so that's only marginally relative. Nope, LEO isn't much, and private enterprise will have us there in no time. And if we could find a way to sell chunks of the moon we could even make money. Don't think the Chinese or Russians would like that, they probably need first hand experience with capitalism.

The US has opted out of the LEO manned arena for good or for bad. I know I miss being #1 in that, turning from leaders to passengers, effectively turning over the ISS to other nations. Reminds me of Berlin in the '50s without the option of aerial resupply.

I'm still saddened by the inability of the US to get to the ISS with men in it's own equipment.

How the mighty have fallen.