The Russian Space Agency and NASA are set to sign a supplemental agreement on the development of several systems aimed at avoiding emergency situations developing on the Inter-national Space Station (ISS).
The modified contract entails a further $14 million being budgeted for contingencies. The cash will be used by Russian company Energia to supply a pressurised dome for the Zvezda service module, a docking hub for the Zarya control module and the docking system for the proposed US Propulsion Module, which is to be launched in 2004.
In a separate development, the Russian-built Zvezda service module has taken control of the (ISS), handling all attitude control manoeuvres for the 60-tonne orbital space base.
The first Progress tanker flight to the ISS is planned for launch on 6 August.
Source: Flight International
