UntitledSTAR CITY, Russia (AP) -- The American and Russian space crew, just back from a six-month stint aboard the International Space Station, reacted cautiously Wednesday to calls for doubling the length of space flights saying that the optimal time in orbit depended on the tasks set.
At a news conference at Russia's space training facility outside Moscow five days after returning to Earth, American astronaut Michael Foale said that to simply stay in orbit for a long time is not worth it in itself.
"If there is work, its possible to fly as long as necessary," said his crew mate, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri. "If there is no work, there is no worse punishment."
Russia is pressing NASA to agree to extend crew stints on the space station from the current six months to one year, which would free up places on its Soyuz crew capsules for paying space tourists.
Russia's Soyuz and Progress cargo ships have been the only link to the space station since the U.S. shuttle fleet was grounded following the loss of the shuttle Columbia in 2003.
Facing the need to mobilize its already scarce resources to keep the station supplied and manned, Russia has had to freeze the construction of its own segment on the station and some commercial projects, including selling space trips to rich tourists.
Foale suggested that a rigorous program including spacewalks and experiments could justify extending the time limit in orbit.
"If there is a strong orbital program that utilizes the fact that you are spending a year in space then there is value in it," he said.
Kaleri and Foale returned to Earth on Friday, along with European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers of the Netherlands who spent nine days on the station. The three men, who have been undergoing medical tests and recuperating at Star City since their Friday morning landing, looked relaxed and upbeat.
"The flight was very good. The main thing was that the station functioned normally and we fulfilled the whole program," said Kaleri, who was flight commander of the pared down two-man space station crew.
Kaleri said that he and Foale managed to find enough free time to watch the traditional Saturday night movie.
Kuipers, who had made his first space flight, said that he was very pleased and hoped that there would be a second.
Foale however hinted that his repeated stints in space had left him slightly jaded.
"There must be a new aim, a new challenge," to entice him into returning, said Foale, who has been in space six times.
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