Well Luke, as primitive as the Soyez looks, it obviously still works. I wasn't commenting on it's functionality. Just saying I wouldn't get in it. If I were to go into space--it wouldn't be curled up like a comma, inside of a cast iron bowling ball. I'm slightly clostrophobic. Guess that means I'm not going into space anytime soon. Certainly not if they don't need space monkeys any more.

As far as the ISS is concerned, I doubt it would even have been built were it not for the Shuttle. ESA has their Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which can take four times the cargo that Progress can. The ATV is also used to boost the ISS to keep it in it's proper altitude and orbit.

JAXA as well, have launched resupply vehicles--the HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV). It supposedly could be configured for a man rating. It was in the plan, but I haven't heard or read about JAXA going forward with that.

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Retro-grouch