TIM FURNISS / LONDON
NASA "fully expects" Russia to meet its International Space Station (ISS) obligations despite a cash crisis at the country's major contractor Energia and a reduction in the national space budget.
Valeri Ryumin, an Energia executive, has proposed that the ISS be temporarily shut down due to the Russian budget squeeze.
Ryumin says that Russia's commitment to launch four Progress tankers and two Soyuz TMAs to the ISS each year cannot be met. There is only money to build two Progress vehicles in 2003, compared with three this year and five in 2001, says Ryumin. In addition, there are no funds for next year's two Soyuz.
Progress vehicles, which deliver cargo to the ISS, also help maintain the station's orbit, while one Soyuz, docked to the ISS at all times, acts as an escape launch. A fresh Soyuz is needed every six months.
Energia has debts of $32 million and has borrowed $64 million to keep its production lines open, with the parts for 10 Soyuz and Progress craft in the assembly plant. However, subcontractors are reluctant to supply components for final assembly. Funding is available for one Soyuz, says Ryumin, who criticises the Russian government for not being interested. The Russian aerospace agency acknowledges the crisis and says the "situation is difficult" and "there are risks".
The Russian space programme will get only $79 million in 2003 to support its ISS obligations, which is half that required, says the agency.
Meanwhile, the latest Progress tanker, M1-9, docked with the ISS on 29 September with 3,200kg (7,050lb) of fuel, oxygen, water, food, medicines and crew parcels.
The Progress M46 tanker, which undocked from the ISS to make room for M1-9, performed an Earth observation mission with digital and TV cameras in close proximity to the ISS before being deorbited.
Meanwhile, NASA is operating an underwater Extreme Environment Mission Operations project to simulate ISS science operations aboard the underwater lab.
Source: Flight International
