Space Station: Sensenbrenner Opposes Paying for Russian Contribution

Amid the economic collapse and political volatility in Russia, the Russian Space Agency has recently informed NASA that it has no more money for its portion of the International Space Station. To try to maintain the program’s schedule (launch of the first element is due in November), NASA has come up with a plan to purchase goods and services that the Russians had committed to supplying as part of their contribution to the international effort. According to the Associate Administrator for Human Space Flight, Joe Rothenberg, NASA plans to ask Congress and the Administration for the go-ahead to spend up to $660 million over the next four years to ensure continued progress on those elements to be supplied by Russia. NASA estimates that this is about one-half the cost of the items. “We can’t be sure they’ll come up with the other half, though,” Rothenberg warned. Under this plan, NASA would spend $60 million this month and an additional $40 million throughout the rest of the year to keep the Russian-supplied items on track. It could spend up to an additional $150 million in each of the next three years.

In response to NASA’s plan, House Science Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) released the following statement:

* * * * * “NASA’s announcement today is a long overdue acknowledgment that Russia is unable to fulfill its obligations as a partner in the construction and operation of the International Space Station and removes any doubt that putting Russia in the critical path was an expensive mistake. NASA’s request that the American taxpayer now pay for that mistake while simultaneously treating Russia as an equal partner is unacceptable. The U.S. should not set the precedent of paying for another country to be a partner in an international science project.

If the U.S. is to assume greater financial responsibilities, the international agreement with Russia should be renegotiated to reflect Russia’s reduced contribution. American companies and workers should be given the opportunity to perform these services instead of simply sending more money overseas. I oppose the Administration’s scheme to turn a vital and important science program like the Space Station into more Russian foreign aid.

During the past three years, the Science Committee, on a bipartisan basis, has pressed the Administration to develop a long-term plan for eliminating the dependence of the International Space Station on Russian flight hardware.

That unwillingness led the Administration to adopt short-term, ad hoc measures that temporarily resolved immediate problems but contributed to the program’s growing cost.

Just over a month ago, officials from the White House testified before the Science Committee that, The best information we have at the moment does not lead us to make the judgment that we need to jump to the conclusion that the Russians will not be able to meet any of their commitments.’ White House officials made this statement while the Russian economy was in the midst of collapse and after three years of repeated Russian failures to adequately fund Moscow’s obligations to the International Space Station partnership.

Previously, the Administration had rejected a number of common sense Congressional proposals, including: a proposal to implement commercial options and work with U.S. industry for reducing our dependence on Russia at a lower cost; reducing U.S. foreign aid to Russia as compensation for increased U.S. payments; proposals from an independent advisory committee to fund a U.S. backup plan; and proposals to hold Russia accountable for the costs it has imposed on the international partnership by changing Russia’s role or reducing the benefits Russia receives from participation in the International Space Station program.

The American taxpayers should not be punished for Russia’s failure to fulfill its obligations and for the Administration’s past mistakes.”

* * * * * It is not known how congressional appropriators will handle NASA’s request. The House and Senate have not yet scheduled a conference on the VA/HUD bill, which funds NASA and other independent agencies, although there are some indications that they might meet next week.