Congress Responds to NASA Request on Space Station
As reported in FYI #131 , the collapse of the Russian economy threatens the International Space Station. The Russian Space Agency has informed NASA that it has no more funding to complete components including the Service Module, which is scheduled for launch next year to provide on-orbit control of the station.
According to reports, NASA is apparently contemplating a plan that would transfer up to $660 million to the Russian Space Agency (RSA) over the next four years to help it fulfill its commitments to the project. Currently, NASA has received the Administration’s backing and is seeking support from Congress to transfer $60 million in FY 1998 NASA funds to the RSA immediately, to enable work to continue on the Service Module. The $60 million would come from delaying and deferring some FY 1998 funding for reserves and spare parts. In an October 7 hearing, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin explained that while the influx of cash would enable the RSA to continue work, the deal was a “quid pro quo.” NASA would, in return, receive storage space on Russian station elements and crew time during which Russian cosmonauts would perform research for the U.S. At the same hearing, Goldin and several other witnesses testified that complete elimination of the Russians from critical aspects of the project immediately would not be a sensible option. Further details of the October 7 House Science Committee hearing will be reported in FYI #146 .
In Congress, members of the authorization and appropriations committees for NASA have responded with concern to the RSA’s funding situation and America’s continued dependence on Russia for Space Station assembly and operation. Nevertheless, the chairmen and ranking minority members of the House and Senate VA/HUD Appropriations Committees have given Goldin the go-ahead to reprogram the $60 million in FY 1998 funds, provided they first receive from NASA a plan “which eliminates United States reliance on Russia at the earliest possible date.”
Below is the text of the appropriators’ October 13 letter to Goldin, signed by Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), and Rep. Louis Stokes (D-OH):
“By your letter of September 29, 1998 NASA has requested approval to modify an existing contract with the Russian Space Agency, the purpose of which is to facilitate the immediate transfer of $60,000,000 to RSA for purchase of crew time and storage space on Russian elements. Through this payment, it is assumed that work on the third element of the International Space Station can proceed with the objective of launch in July of 1999.
“We remain concerned that this funding does not address the total needs of RSA for calendar year 1998, estimated at $100,000,000. In addition, the proposed [contract modification] still does not appear to ensure delivery and launch of the critical third element of the station. Moreover, recent conversations between your staff and the staffs of the Committees have revealed that prior to the end of 1998, an additional $40,000,000 may be required for the Russian Space Agency. As such, while your letter does not propose that the United States would be the source of this funding, we wish to convey at this time that such a proposal for additional funds beyond the current transfer of $60,000,000 would be viewed with grave concern. It has been indicated that only goods or services which are of use to NASA, and not already covered in the proposed $60,000,000 modification, would be procurement of a Soyuz crew return vehicle at a total cost in excess of the $40,000,000 requirement. We therefore want to be clear that any proposal to procure Soyuz or Progress vehicles at this time would be extremely premature and should not be considered as a viable use of United States funding.
“It is our belief that rather than embarking on a plan to procure Soyuz and Progress vehicles, it is now the time for NASA to share with the Congress its comprehensive plan for ending United States dependence on Russia. It is clear that previous assurances made to the Chairman of the House Committee on Science regarding United States autonomous flight and life support capability during all phases of station assembly have not materialized. The resulting dependence on Russian elements has meant increased expense to the American taxpayers. If the taxpayers are expected to pay additional costs, we believe the goal should be United States autonomy.”
“Taking into consideration the forgoing [sic], we approve the proposal to use $60,000,000 of fiscal year 1998 funding for the purpose stated in your letter of September 29, 1998. However, none of these funds may be expended until the Congress receives a plan which eliminates United States reliance on Russia at the earliest possible date.”
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), chair of the House Science Committee - the authorizing committee for NASA in the House - has reacted more harshly to NASA’s proposal. In an October 9 response to Goldin, he wrote, “I cannot support this transfer to the Russian Space Agency and reject the reprogramming of NASA funds for this purpose. I believe approving such a reprogramming without significantly restructuring the relationship with our Russian partner will not achieve our mutual goal of providing the long-term stability necessary to a successful International Space Station.”
NASA has now submitted a document entitled “U.S. Contingency Plans to Address Russian Shortfalls,” which outlines its current, incremental approach. While Sensenbrenner announced in an October 20 statement that he was pleased with some elements of the plan, he added, “Unfortunately, the one page contingency plan’ that the Administration submitted with its letter does not constitute a comprehensive strategy.” Despite Sensenbrenner’s objections, recent accounts indicate that NASA has gone forward with the transfer of at least some of the $60 million to Russia.
