Science and Space

space and astronomy articles.

NASA criticised over management of the International Space Station

The International Space Station provides an essential platform to support manned missions to the Moon and Mars but NASA currently lacks a complete or convincing plan for finishing and making use of the orbiting outpost, according to a report issued by the US National Research Council.

Key problems identified in the NRC report include the space shuttle’s limited availability to reach the station, the current reduction in the station’s crew, and restricted research – all of which can be traced back to funding issues.

The space shuttle is needed to deliver large components required to complete construction of the ISS and ferry up crew supplies and other equipment. But NASA hopes to cut costs by flying fewer shuttle missions to the station than the 18 or 19 currently planned.

If the station has not been completed by the time the shuttle is retired – at the end of 2010 – there is no back-up plan for hauling up any remaining heavy pieces. The NRC panel says that NASA needs to plan how to finish the station and also how to support it in the post-shuttle era.

Another problem is crew size. In the absence of shuttle deliveries, the station personnel is limited to a skeleton crew of two people, who spend so much time maintaining the station that they have very little time for research.

Previous NRC reports have suggested that a full six-person crew is needed to conduct useful research, but NASA timetables do not envision reaching that level until somewhere between 2009 and 2015. The new report recommends the crew be expanded to six as soon as possible, preferably by 2008.

IThe NRC report further criticises NASA for failing to figure out how best to fulfil the station’s potential. The panel found "no evidence of an integrated resource-utilisation plan" for station support of future exploration programmes. It also found no assurance that high-priority projects would be flown carried out and do not interfere with each other’s schedules or put an unnecessary strain on resources.

posted by: kyawoo at 11:55 | link | comments (1) |
space station

Comments:

#1  06 December 2005 - 04:06

 

Odd request, but please come visit. I need a flag from your country. I'm up to 92 flags and I'd be proud to have yours fly among the rest. :)

Thank you!
Debbie, NC, USA

Anonymous

Comments: