NASA Administrator Hints At Continuing Shuttle Flights; Not Turning ISS Over to Russians

 ISS photographed by Space Shuttle astronuats/ NASA

America may have to turn  the keys to the International Space Station (ISS)over  to the Russians by 2012 if Congress blocks  funding for Russian space transportation services,  NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin said today.

In carefully-nuanced press comments, Griffin also further opened the door to the possibility of continuing Space Shuttle flights.  The complexities of maintaining America's presence on the International Space Station (ISS) revolve around three key factors:

• the time and expense in developing the new Orion crew vehicle and launcher,
• a current Congressional block on funds to pay for hitching rides on Russian vehicles
• and the hint of a new cold war with Russia over Georgia and other military issues.

In order for the United States to pay for Russian transport services to and from the ISS, Congress must again provide an exemption to the Iran Non-Proliferation Act of 2000. After  Russia's recent saber-rattling, stiff opposition to that course has been encountered in Congress.

Without those Russian services, American astronauts, and those from some international partners, would find themselves Earth-bound. Griffin said that the ISS may lack an American presence as early as 2012.

If Congress doesn't approve the exemption, and they don't want to remove the U.S. from the space station, the only remaining possibility is to keep flying the shuttle, Griffin explained. Given the possibility of a unexpectedly long hiatus in American spaceflight, rumors of a possible extension of the Space Shuttle program have been flying recently.. 

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and other Republican Congresspersons have asked President George Bush for a year's hiatus in any decisions that would irrevocably shut down Space Shuttle flights. At stake: billions of dollars expended in ISS development and operations; the ISS presence of American astronauts; and the continuance of America's manned spaceflight  partnership with Russia.

The key question: is American political leadership willing to allow the space station to become the Kremlin in the sky? No one doubts that the new Orion/Constellation class of American vehicles will be operational within the next few years. However, filling the gap requires either legislative exemptions to the funding block, or continued Space Shuttle service.