DATE=2/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S-RUSSIA-SPACE STATION (S)
NUMBER=2-259061
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S and Russian space agencies have
announced that Russia will launch a long-delayed
module for the International Space Station in July.
The decision appears to remove a point of contention
between the two agencies, as we hear from V-O-A
Science Correspondent David McAlary.
TEXT: Discussions between U-S and Russian space
officials in Moscow Thursday and Friday have produced
an agreement that the Russian Service Module will be
launched from Kazakhstan between July 8th and 14th.
The module - which will provide propulsion for the
space station and living quarters for the first crews
-- was originally scheduled for launch in April, 1998.
But Russian financial difficulties and technical
trouble with the Proton launch rocket caused repeated
postponements and has set back station construction.
The U-S space agency NASA grew so exasperated with the
delays that its chief - Daniel Goldin - criticized
Moscow publicly last week, saying he doubted its
dedication to the space station project, especially
since it decided to revive its abandoned Mir space
station.
Two international station modules - a U-S component
and a Russian unit - have already been connected in
orbit. (SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/KL
11-Feb-2000 12:19 PM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1719 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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