DATE=8/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236572
TITLE=CONGRESS - SPACE STATION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING MORE STEPS TO KEEP
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON TRACK IN CASE RUSSIA'S SHARE
OF THE PROJECT IS DELAYED FURTHER. OFFICIALS DELIVERED A STATUS
REPORT TO A SKEPTICAL, OFTEN CRITICAL, AUDIENCE IN CONGRESS
(WEDNESDAY). V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE SPACE AGENCY NASA, DAN GOLDIN, EMPHASIZED
THAT MUCH OF THE 15-NATION PROJECT IS PROGRESSING WELL, AND
RUSSIAN EXPERTISE IS VITAL. HOWEVER, HE WARNED THE STATION COULD
BE SET BACK BY RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS, WHICH HAS LEFT A HUGE
DEFICIT IN MOSCOW'S SPACE BUDGET.
// GOLDIN ACT //
THE RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY HAS MADE EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS
DESPITE SHORTFALLS IN FUNDING. BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
TIMELY COMPLETION OF THIS IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL
PROJECT IS AT RISK SHOULD THE SHORTAGE OF RUSSIAN
FUNDING CONTINUE.
// END ACT //
THE TIMETABLE IS IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE RUSSIA IS BUILDING THE
SERVICE MODULE, WHICH PROVIDES LIFE-SUPPORT, PROPULSION AND
CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR THE STATION. THE UNITED STATES IS DEVELOPING
ITS OWN, ALTERNATIVE MODULE -- WHICH WAS DESIGNED AS AN INTERIM
STEP -- BUT WHICH OFFICIALS NOW SUGGEST COULD BECOME A PERMANENT
SOLUTION. MISSION PLANNERS ARE ALSO CONSIDERING WHETHER TO GIVE
THE SPACE SHUTTLE A BIGGER ROLE IN THE EVENT THE RUSSIAN
"PROGRESS" CARGO CRAFT CAN NOT MAKE ENOUGH FLIGHTS TO THE NEW
STATION.
NEW U-S BUDGET DIRECTOR, JACOB LEW, SOUGHT TO ASSURE CONGRESS THE
RUSSIANS WILL MEET THEIR GOALS, WHILE ALSO SAYING THE UNITED
STATES WILL BE READY IF ITS PARTNER IS NOT.
// LEW ACT //
WE'RE NOT JUST PUTTING ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
WE'RE NOT READY TO ASSUME THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE NOT
THERE. NOW WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT IN OUR INTERNATIONAL
DISCUSSIONS, WE'RE DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE THE
RUSSIANS WILL KEEP THEIR WORD.
// END ACT //
BUT MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES (DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS) SAY
RUSSIA IS NOT RELIABLE. REPUBLICAN DANA ROHRABACHER SAYS THE
ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH IS FATALLY FLAWED.
// ROHRABACHER ACT //
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT
GOVERNMENT. NOW WHETHER OR NOT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT
CAN BECOME HONEST AND EFFICIENT IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW,
YEAR OR TWO - I DON'T THINK MANY OF US ARE WAITING FOR
THAT TO HAPPEN.
// END ACT //
OTHER LAWMAKERS SAY NASA DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HELP RUSSIA
WITHOUT SACRIFICING ITS OWN OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROJECT,
ESPECIALLY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. DEMOCRAT TIM ROEMER BLAMES
MOSCOW FOR THE STATION'S RISING EXPENSE.
// ROEMER ACT //
THEY HAVE FAILED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND IT IS
ESCALATING THE COST TO OUR TAXPAYER OF THIS PROJECT YEAR
BY YEAR BY YEAR.
// END ACT //
WHILE RUSSIAN SPACE OFFICIALS TRY TO BUILD THE NEW STATION, THEY
MUST ALSO FIND MONEY TO BRING THE OLD "MIR" STATION SAFELY DOWN
OVER THE OCEAN. THIS CONTROLLED DE-ORBIT IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT
JUNE. NASA DIRECTOR GOLDIN CALLS THIS AN ESSENTIAL TASK, WHICH
RUSSIA MUST CARRY OUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/JO
05-Aug-98 1:52 PM EDT (1752 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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