Bay Area Citizen - News
McCain, Hutchison worried about U.S. space travel
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| An astronaut aboard Space Shuttle Discovery captured this image of the International Space Station moments after the orbiter undocked from the Station. Three U.S. senators this week said they want to ensure that NASA has a way to travel there throughout the space gap, in the wake of political disagreement with Russia. |
By DANA BURKE
NASA’s new budget may not be approved this year, three U.S. senators have said in a letter to President Bush.
“The limited time available for consideration of legislation this year may not make it possible for that measure - or any variation of its content in another legislative vehicle - to be enacted during this session of Congress.”
Sens. John McCain, Kay Bailey Hutchison and David Vitter also want NASA to hold onto its space shuttle hardware, systems and services after the program is set to end in 2010 - just in case.
The three have asked the president to ensure that the shuttle can be kept as backup transportation to the International Space Station after it is taken out of commission, and before the new Constellation program comes on board in 2015.
They cite Russia’s current conflict with the nation of Georgia as the primary reason for concern.
The current plan during the five-year space gap is to continue to partner with Russia and use its Soyuz vehicles to deliver American crews to the space station.
“Our concern is that we do not have a guarantee that such cooperative and mutually beneficial activity will continue to be available, and the successful utilization of the ISS may be jeopardized,” the letter states.
McCain, Hutchison and Vitter said they believe the partnership with Russia is still the best plan for the space program. However, they want NASA to have an alternative form of transportation in case the partnership is terminated.
Their letter to Bush requests that the means for flight hardware, engineering and support services “not be completely and irretrievably lost through destruction or deterioration, at least until a clear path to alternative launch capabilities is in hand.”
“At a minimum, we ask that you direct NASA to take no action for at least one year from now that would preclude the extended use of the space shuttle beyond 2010.”
NASA officials recently released new internal timelines for the launch of the Constellation program, but even the new timelines hinge on the approval of the space agency’s budget reauthorization for 2009.
NASA’s leaders have not given specifics on how the program’s goals would be affected if the new budget did not pass.
Hutchison, McCain and Vittner said that although the reauthorization bill may not pass, they believe there is strong support in both the House and the Senate for preserving the United States’ ability to travel to the space station.
“The limited time available for consideration of legislation this year may not make it possible for that measure - or any variation of its content in another legislative vehicle - to be enacted during this session of Congress.”
Sens. John McCain, Kay Bailey Hutchison and David Vitter also want NASA to hold onto its space shuttle hardware, systems and services after the program is set to end in 2010 - just in case.
The three have asked the president to ensure that the shuttle can be kept as backup transportation to the International Space Station after it is taken out of commission, and before the new Constellation program comes on board in 2015.
They cite Russia’s current conflict with the nation of Georgia as the primary reason for concern.
The current plan during the five-year space gap is to continue to partner with Russia and use its Soyuz vehicles to deliver American crews to the space station.
“Our concern is that we do not have a guarantee that such cooperative and mutually beneficial activity will continue to be available, and the successful utilization of the ISS may be jeopardized,” the letter states.
McCain, Hutchison and Vitter said they believe the partnership with Russia is still the best plan for the space program. However, they want NASA to have an alternative form of transportation in case the partnership is terminated.
Their letter to Bush requests that the means for flight hardware, engineering and support services “not be completely and irretrievably lost through destruction or deterioration, at least until a clear path to alternative launch capabilities is in hand.”
“At a minimum, we ask that you direct NASA to take no action for at least one year from now that would preclude the extended use of the space shuttle beyond 2010.”
NASA officials recently released new internal timelines for the launch of the Constellation program, but even the new timelines hinge on the approval of the space agency’s budget reauthorization for 2009.
NASA’s leaders have not given specifics on how the program’s goals would be affected if the new budget did not pass.
Hutchison, McCain and Vittner said that although the reauthorization bill may not pass, they believe there is strong support in both the House and the Senate for preserving the United States’ ability to travel to the space station.
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