| NASA intends to abandon shuttles The new American space program, which George Bush is expected to announce this week, seems likely to affect Russia most directly. The ambitious plans of the US President to create a permanent base on the Moon and prepare an expedition to Mars actually mask the introduction by the Americans of a regime of austerity in space, and this saving will be carried out, including at the expense of partners on the ISS.
After the Columbia shuttle disaster in early 2003, the Americans suspended flights to the space shuttle station until the causes of the accident were clarified, and all responsibility for life support for the ISS fell on Russia, which had to tighten the launch schedule of its spacecraft. During the year, Rosaviakosmos tried to put pressure on its overseas partner, demanding increased American participation in the project. However, instead of the long-awaited resumption of flights to the ISS of reusable spacecraft, the United States is preparing to announce a complete refusal to use them. NASA experts concluded that disposable spacecraft with a reentry capsule are much more reliable and cheaper than reusable shuttles, and decided to create a new spacecraft, resuming work on the Apollo project. The first flight of the new Apollo is expected to take place no earlier than 2007.
However, the shuttles, as you know, were one of the main means of delivering cargo to the International Space Station under construction. And therefore, NASA claims that it does not intend to abandon the shuttles until the construction of the orbital complex is completed. Moreover, trying to avoid a counter negative reaction to their initiatives from their partners, the Americans have already hinted that the development of a new disposable ship based on Apollo will be carried out jointly with the Russian side.
Nevertheless, the current situation does not contribute to the growth of mutual understanding between partners, especially since there are a number of unresolved technical problems on the ISS, the elimination of which can cost a fortune. Apart from previously failed air and water monitoring devices and a broken gyroscope, mission control centers in Russia and the United States are still arguing about the causes and possible consequences of a drop in air pressure at the station, as well as measures to eliminate the malfunction. Alexander GUDKOV |
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