The report, requested by the House Science Committee, noted that NASA is taking steps to improve its procedural and regulatory export methods. They singled out the agency's internal auditing system as a main concern. Specifically they pointed to a need for more detailed and analytical reports about exports and a list of ISS-related items requiring an export license.

"They [the reports] were too cursory and they did not provide sufficient detail from which NASA headquarters officials could ensure that the agency's export control process was working,'' said Allen Li, the GAO's associate director for defense acquisitions and one of the report's authors.

NASA must share technology with the 15 other nations involved in the 15-year-old program. The Export Administration Act requires NASA and its subcontractors to obtain an export license from the Commerce or State departments before they can export certain sensitive technologies, like the encoding hardware and software needed to fly the spacecraft.

NASA spokeswoman Debra Rahn called the GAO report findings fair. She added that NASA's Inspector General produced a report in March that came to the same conclusions, and that the agency is on its way to correcting the problems.

"NASA Headquarters has been working to address the issue,'' Rahn said. New guidelines on export controls are being sent to the NASA centers in time for the agency's annual audit, she said.

The State Department also controls export licenses for commercial satellite manufacturers, who are complaining that the department's strict regulations and small staff have resulted in processing delays that are costing them overseas contracts. Congress gave State authority over the space industry earlier this year amid fears that China and other nations were receiving technological secrets, contrary to U.S. policy.

GAO officials said in the report that they fear that without a more comprehensive and centralized auditing system with a list of items the State and Commerce departments might consider sensitive, certain technologies related to the space station will end up in the wrong hands.

Rahn said NASA would continue to find ways to improve its export controls to safeguard against any unauthorized technology transfer. The agency is in the process of compiling a database of export items that require overview from both Commerce and State.

In January 1997, radiation-hardened electronics were sent to Russia without the necessary license. NASA discovered the improper transfer 18 months later when Russia inquired about the need for a license when it was expecting a shipment of similar components, Li said.

"Having that database is really important,'' Li said. "They would have had a greater chance of discovering this themselves, instead of finding out by accident because the Russians identified the need for license. It is to NASA's credit it did an investigation when it found out about this incident. And they are trying to shore up that process."

Since April 1995, NASA has obtained nine individual licenses to export specific items and one special comprehensive license for the transfer of large amounts of related space station hardware and software technology from the Commerce Department. The space agency obtained six licenses for items exported to Russia, the space station's other leading agency, two for items sent to Italy, and one license for items shipped to Germany.

The State Department has yet to issue NASA a license to ship any item.