<p><br /> A Russian Soyuz capsule has docked at the International Space Station (ISS), setting the stage for a pair of final shuttle missions to the orbital outpost.<br /> </p><p><br /> Veteran cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri, rookie Oleg Skripochka and Nasa's Scott Kelly boarded the ISS joining three other astronauts who arrived in June.<br /> </p><p><br /> It means the outpost is now fully staffed again. The new crew members will remain on the station for six months.<br /> </p><p><br /> During that time, they will receive spare parts for the ISS, delivered on two further shuttle missions, scheduled for November and February.<br /> </p><p><br /> Kelly's identical twin brother Mark Kelly, also a Nasa astronaut is commander of the latter mission. If schedules go to plan, it would be the first time blood relatives are together in space.<br /> </p><p><br /> The shuttle programme is ending after 30 years of flights due to high operating costs of about $3 billion a year. The US does not have a replacement vehicle.<br /> </p><p><br /> In preparation for the shuttles' retirement, NASA has turned over station crew ferry flights to Russia, at a cost of $51 million per person.<br /> </p><p><br /> The NASA spending plan for the fiscal year that began October 1 includes seed funds for private sector development of space taxis. Under the plan, the government would oversee development of a new launching system for travel to destinations beyond the station's orbit such as asteroids, the moon and Mars.<br /> </p><p><br /> An additional shuttle mission to deliver cargo to the station next summer also been approved by Congress, but not funded.<br /> </p>
