SPACE.com -- Who Will Save the Space Station?

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	Who Will Save the Space Station? posted: 06:37 pm ET 28 September 1999

iss_icmThe International SpaceStation is going to need a boost if it is to stay in orbit, and right now,it isn't clear where it's going to get the extra push. The two Space Stationelements already in orbit (Zarya and Unity) have only enough propellantto last another eight to ten months. After that, they will begin a slowdescent into Earths atmosphere that could eventually lead to theirdestruction.

"Plan A" has always beento send the Russian-built Service Module, Zvezda, to do the job. Politicaland financial upheaval in Russia over the last decade have cast doubt onthat country's ability to deliver, but Russia has always insisted it wasup to the task. For the last two years, however, NASA has been workingwith the Naval Research Lab (NRL) on a "Plan B," using once-classified"top secret" technology for delivering spy satellites to orbit.

It began with a serendipitousmeeting of NASA and NRL engineers at a propulsion conference. The NRL haddeveloped a classified satellite launch dispenser for the National ReconnaissanceOffice, and there were plenty of spare parts left over -- enough to buildan entire propulsion module. There was also a never-completed design forusing the space shuttle to deliver the module into space. In other words,the pieces were already in place for the NRL to build a back-up InterimControl Module (ICM) in case the Russians were unable to complete Zvezda.The Navy plans to deliver the ICM to NASA in March2000.

The Russian Service Moduleis designed to provide primary attitude control, life support and re-boostcapability for the Space Station. Launch was originally planned for fivemonths after the first piece of the station (Zarya) was sent into space.But Zarya went up in November 1998, and Zvezda is still on Earth. The currentschedule calls for the Russians to launch it on November 12, although NASAreportedly is preparing to ask for a delay.

Even if the November 12 launchgoes as planned, NASA may still decide to send the Navy's ICM into orbitas a back-up, in case Russia doesn't have enough Progress re-supply shipsto deliver fuel to Zvezda.

(Michael Baine, IreneBrown, and Jonathan Lipman contributed to this report.)

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