Russia's state parliament, the Duma, is requesting about $50-60 million in next year's budget to finance the Mir Space Station's operations, according to RKK Energia, the company that operates the Russian space station.
Uriy Grigoriev, deputy president at RKK Energia, told space.com that even if the government approved the funding, it would take at least three months for the money to reach the company.
Meanwhile, in another sign of tension between the Russian Aerospace Agency (RASA) and its subsidiaries, RASA Director Uriy Koptev urged the agency to discard the Mir program as soon as possible so it could concentrate its scarce resources on the International Space Station (ISS) and other national space projects.
"I would not like to be a witness to how the symbol of Russia's greatest scientific and technological achievements and its pride turns into a universal demon that could at any moment fall [anywhere on Earth]," Koptev said.
He also said the numerous technical problems on-board could jeopardize further expeditions to the space outpost, which marks its 14th year in orbit next February.
"The pressure of the internal atmosphere is constantly falling and is already below the required level, though the reason for this problem has not been found," Koptev said.
Mir's technical specifications state that "with internal atmospheric pressure of 450 millimeters Hg (i.e., millimeters of mercury, a measure of pressure) and lower, any on-board system may fail."
The lowest pressure level acceptable for a safe crew presence is 560 millimeters, according to Russian specifications.
In previous interviews with space.com, RKK Energia representatives have said the existing air leak does not present any serious danger for the expedition to Mir, currently planned for next March.
In order for the new crew to safely dock with the station, Mir's main computer -- a digital control system that is historically prone to breakdowns -- must be activated. If the digital control fails, a radio, or analog link, would be the only way to control the station. And if this analog system fails, then they lose all control over the station, Koptev said.
Mir is currently guided by an analog control system, which requires radio commands from the ground to keep the station oriented in space. RKK Energia plans to switch Mir back to a more accurate digital control before starting high-precision maneuvers for reentry into Earth's atmosphere.
Koptev was very skeptical about the Duma's plans to allocate more money to continue Mir's operations. He said the station has been kept operational in the past four years because of an investment of $1 billion by NASA and the European Space Agency. Russia's budget for next year earmarks 3.3 billion rubles for space programs.
While lawmakers are demanding that Mir requires additional funds to stay operational, Koptev said the 1.5 billion rubles lawmakers plan to allocate for Mir "is hardly enough for the year." About 2.5 billion rubles will be needed just to continue construction of the Russian part of the ISS, he said.
"But there are also programs to develop satellite communications, television and navigation systems," Koptev said. "Moreover, the process itself of scuttling the station will require about as much money as deputies propose to allocate for Mir."
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