|
 |
 advertisement
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Russia, U.S. to Support International Space Station
By Vladimir Isachenkov
Associated Press
posted: 03:15 pm ET
14 February 2003
|
Untitled MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia and the United States will take "joint, energetic steps" to support the international space station in the aftermath of the Columbia disaster, President Vladimir Putin said Friday. Russian space officials said they were ready to build extra ships, providing the United States and other partners in the 16-nation space station project cover the costs. In the past, both Russian supply ships and U.S. shuttles have serviced the orbiting outpost. But with shuttle missions suspended during the investigation into the Columbia disaster, Russian ships have become the sole link to the station, which is staffed with two American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut. Putin said he and President Bush had discussed the station recently. "The U.S. president paid special attention to the issue when we last talked on the phone and emphasized that we need to take joint, energetic steps to ensure work on the station,'' Putin said in televised remarks. But NASA hasn't yet determined what additional contribution from Russia would be needed, Russian Aerospace Agency director Yuri Koptev said at the start of a meeting with Putin at the Kremlin. Russia has budgeted $130 million to fulfill its obligation to send two Soyuz and three Progress ships to the station this year. The ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Koptev as saying Russia would have to build an additional Progress this year and up to three additional spacecraft next year to maintain space station operations. The Progress, a cargo ship, costs $22 million to build. "What was previously done by the United States and Russia will have to be done by Russia alone,'' Koptev said in remarks broadcast by First Channel television. ``Naturally, it would put an additional burden on Russia and require adjustment of earlier plans.'' NASA said it was still discussing space station operations with the Russians. However, James Newman, NASA's coordinator in Russia, said earlier this week that U.S. legislation prohibits the agency from purchasing more Russian ships because of Russia's nuclear and missile cooperation with Iran.
|
|
|
|
|
