WASHINGTON - The nation's civilian space agency is not bluffing Congress by recommending the International Space Station be dramatically downsized in hopes sympathetic lawmakers will rescue it, a top NASA official said Friday.
"I don't believe that's the case at all," said Mike Hawes, a NASA deputy associate administrator. "I think the dynamic this year with Congress will be very different from what we've seen. My bottom line is I'm not believing in tooth fairies."
The possibility of a $4 billion cost overrun for the remaining U.S. portion of the 16-nation construction project is very real, but ongoing studies could show it to be less, Hawes said. NASA officials believe it could cost as much as $4 billion more than planned to complete the International Space Station as now configured. The Bush budget document released earlier in the week was awkwardly written and led some to believe the overrun projection was $5 billion.
But to some on Capitol Hill, the surprising announcement this week that the orbiting research platform would be downsized to meet Bush administration budget restrictions smacks of a classic inside-the-Beltway ploy - threaten a politically popular program with closure and wait for friendly House members and senators to deliver salvation.
"They have done that cavalry call for the last 10 years and they have always had somebody bail them out with money," said Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind., well known for his annual amendments to cancel the station. "No matter if it is $1 billion or $5 billion (over budget), somebody comes to its rescue regardless of merit." By canceling a crew return vehicle, propulsion module and habitation compartment to conform with the budget, NASA would diminish the station's research capabilities while increasing reliance on Russia for launch and re-supply vehicles.
Support for the station in Congress long has centered on its promise as a science and research laboratory, and lawmakers have been demanding NASA do something to diminish Russia's involvement, which already has led to delays and other cost overruns.
"Everyone plays politics with the budget," said Pat Dasch, director of the National Space Society. The nonprofit group of space enthusiasts has its headquarters in Washington. "But I don't want to speculate on what the politics are this time around."
NASA's announcement that space station cost projections are significantly over budget reverses a pattern agency managers established during the Clinton administration.
In years past, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin and other high-ranking agency officials would deflect reports the station program was overspending or behind schedule. Only toward the end of the annual budget cycle - usually in the fall - would space agency officials begin to publicly acknowledge the cost and time problems buffeting the station.
"It would appear that what you might be seeing (now) is the floodgates opening," Dasch said. "In the past, they were trying to play the political game to keep the (Clinton) administration happy. Now there is a whole new game in town. If you don't know what this game is, you are best to be honest."
Roemer fears NASA won't stop at estimates of a $4 billion overrun.
"If they are saying in the beginning of the year, 'We got a hell of a problem' - that leads me to believe it may get worse by the end of this year or early next year," Roemer said.
Former top staff member Jim Muncy of the House Science Committee Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee believes NASA's numbers are real.
In the mid-1990s, Johnson Space Center Director George Abbey persuaded Goldin to transfer management of the station project to the Houston, Texas, field center. It was at that point that headquarters lost control of spending, said Muncy, now of PoliSpace, a space policy consultant.
"You can't blame this on the Russians," Muncy said. "This is NASA's fault -- and especially Johnson Space Center and George Abbey and inherently Dan Goldin because he let Abbey do this."
Last week, Goldin relieved Abbey of his position at Johnson and reassigned him to a newly created job at headquarters.
During a teleconference with reporters Friday, Hawes said he had no knowledge of why Abbey was removed.
Bob Walker, former chairman of the House Science Committee, discounted speculation that NASA is bluffing its budget crisis.
"I think there is genuine concern about cost overruns and the way they evolved," said Walker, now a consultant with the Wexler Group.
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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