Re: COULD THE ISS BECOME A RUSSO-EUROPEAN PROJECT?

From: Mike Walsh (mp1walsh_at_adelphia.net)
Date: 08/07/04 

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2004 15:08:33 -0700

"Jim Oberg" <jameseoberg@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:cFqQc.12$KZ2.4@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> COULD THE ISS BECOME A RUSSO-EUROPEAN PROJECT?
>
>
(Snipped most of a good article. See Oberg's post)

> Accordingly, with its growing scientific and technological capabilities,
> Europe intends to join the manned space flight programme. And Russia's
> position on the ISS is perfectly clear. "We have expressed our principled
> stand to our partners - the unconditional observance of our commitments to
> all the participants is a major task for Russia," Nikolai Moiseyev said
> recently. "At the same time, from 2005 it may be considered that all the
> commitments have been honoured. Therefore, the development of the Russian
> segment at the ISS and support for the activities of the Russian crew
there
> is becoming a priority for us."
>
> It will be interesting to see if Houston reads this loud and clear.
>
>

I doubt that it matters a much whether Houston reads this loud and clear as
whether Washington hears it and makes its own commitments.

Right now neither the U.S. budgeting or the expressed willingness of either
the Russians or the Europeans to pay money on space efforts matches funding
required to continue the ISS and bring it up to its planned final status.

Congress takes a beating for dragging their feet on the NASA budget,
but I don't believe NASA has presented them with a completely coherent
plan that brings the Shuttle back to flight status, completes the U.S.
commitments to the ISS and also goes ahead with a lunar-Mars program.

My own opinion is that the ISS and the Shuttle are most essential for
maintaining U.S. credibility.

Mike Walsh

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