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ZL2VAL > SPACE 15.10.03 22:38l 78 Lines 3003 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 7738_ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: Shuttle's absence hurts ISS
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Sent: 031015/0832Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:28304 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g $:7738_ZL
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : SPACE@WW
GAO claims station is in 'survival mode'
By Larry Wheeler <mailto:lwheeler@gns.gannett.com>
FLORIDA TODAY
October 14, 2003
WASHINGTON -- The grounded shuttle fleet will increase the cost of
completing the International Space Station and could expose the
outpost's two-man crew to more risk than originally was expected,
concluded a General Accounting Office report released Tuesday.
Among the effects cited:
* Components packed and ready for delivery to the orbiting
laboratory already have reached their storage limit, the
report found.
* A solar array wing scheduled for launch in May had to be
unpacked and replaced.
* A module carrying research facilities and life support items
critical to the station crew was supposed to launch in March,
but has also reached its expiration date.
Neither NASA nor the GAO could accurately estimate what the cost of
the shuttle delays could be, according to the report. Since 1985,
Congress has appropriated $32 billion for the station, which
originally was estimated to cost about $10 billion.
In 2001, the Bush administration canceled several of the station's
planned modules to offset more than $4 billion in cost overruns.
"We've reported many times on how the cost of the station is going
up," said Allen Li, the report's author. "Now we're talking about a
situation where there are now additional factors that are going to
impact the final cost."
With only two crew members currently on board, the station is in
"survival mode" until the shuttle fleet is cleared to fly again, Li
wrote in the report.
The lack of shuttles to ferry heavy items to the station also
hampers NASA's ability to correct known safety concerns.
For example, added shielding to protect the crew from orbital debris
is on hold. NASA estimates the probability of space debris
penetrating the crew's living quarters increases by 1.6 percent each
year the new shielding is not installed.
NASA knew of the weakness in the Russian-built service module but
issued a waiver to allow it to be launched. NASA's penchant for
issuing such waivers was criticized by the Columbia Accident
Investigation Board.
Space agency officials reviewed the GAO report and agreed with its
findings.
==============================
73 de Alan
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Brain Cramps
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are the president."
- Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.
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