CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- When the leader of Japan's space program flew to Washington, D.C., in April to meet with NASA's chief, he didn't expect a request for more money and resources for the International Space Station.
But that's exactly what Shuichiro Yamanouchi got during his first-ever meeting with NASA Administrator Dan Goldin.
Goldin took his hat in hand to the space agencies of the world, and Yamanouchi, president of the National Space Development Agency of Japan, wasn't spared.
Yamanouchi, who initiated the visit, was taken aback and said he would have to bring the request back to Japan.
"His intention was just a courtesy visit," Hideshi Kozawa, director of Japan's Space Utilization Promotion Department, said earlier this month from Japan. "We did not expect NASA to say something like that."
To date, NASA has paid almost $18 billion for the station. Except for Russia, the other 14 partner nations have contributed nothing close to that.
"If we have the money and the resources, we are willing to support NASA," Kozawa said. "But we have to think about the budgetary considerations and our technology capabilities."
The partner countries' struggle with Goldin's request isn't merely about money and equipment. Japan and the space station's other international partners are concerned about a lack of progress the cuts will create. Without using the station to its fullest capacity, experiments and other work could become delayed or lost.
NASA eliminated three segments because of over-spending: the crew escape vehicle, and habitation and propulsion modules. Without an escape craft or living quarters, the station can't house seven astronauts, which will hamper science research.
In the current three-person crew, only one person can work part-time on the highly touted research aspect of the station. The remaining time, as well as that of the other crewmembers, is spent keeping the station running smoothly.
To help with the problem, Italy is talking with NASA about providing the habitation module.
"Besides Italy, I don't think there's any country whose budget isn't filled up with commitments so far," said Achim Becham, who sits on the executive board of DLR, the German space agency.
Germany is the largest player in the European Space Agency's station efforts, footing 41 percent of ESA's bill.
"We would have problems convincing our governments to stick to the contract if the United States (did not fulfill its contract)," Becham said in a telephone interview from Berlin.
Canadian space officials, who have not been asked to provide additional resources, have concerns about the impact on research.
"It's very challenging to do what we're doing, so we're not disillusioned," Marc Garneau, a former astronaut and the executive vice president of the Canadian Space Agency, said. "But we hope that when NASA decides what its next plan of action will be that it's not going to delay the science."
Because NASA is providing the lion's share of the funding, Garneau said, "they need some time to determine how they're going to deal with their cost overruns."
Neither Garneau nor Japan's Kozawa feel left out. Each said they learned of NASA's cuts early in the year.
Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency were all full partners by 1988.
Canada's role is a small but important one - the mobile servicing system, which is to help build and maintain the station. A recently installed robotic arm will be attached to a mobile base next year so the arm can reach different parts of the station.
The following year, a two-pronged robot hand is planned. It is expected to assist with maintenance and jobs that would reduce the number of dangerous spacewalks.
Europe's main station segment is the Columbus laboratory module. There, European astronauts will monitor lockers filled with experiments.
The main contribution from Japan is the Japanese Experiment Module, a pressurized cylinder for astronauts that carries space-experiment equipment.
If Japan agrees to Goldin's request, it would participate in the joint development of the crew escape vehicle. No deadline has been set.
"We are now requesting NASA to provide more detail information about Mr. Goldin's request," Japan's Kozawa said. "Once we have details, we will be able to have further domestic discussion."
As for how much NASA is seeking, Kozawa said specific dollar amounts have not been relayed to Japan. "We know only NASA's budget overrun for ISS program is $4 billion. We don't have any other additional information about cost."
Published under license from FLORIDA TODAY. Copyright © 2001 FLORIDA TODAY. No portion of this material may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of FLORIDA TODAY.
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