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NASA's top official said Friday that the future of U.S. participation in Russian space flights was in doubt.
Michael Griffin told reporters near the Baikonur Cosmodrome that “an acceptable financial agreement'' could be reached to resolve Russian demands that the U.S. pay for its participation in future Russian flights.
But Griffin said a U.S. law – the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 penalizing countries that sell unconventional weapons and missile technology to Iran, including Russia – could mean an end to “a continuous American presence on the ISS (International Space Station).''
Originally posted by xmotex
Brilliant!
Let's hand over an asset we've pumped billions into over to the Russians because we want to play games with the Iranians.
That's an interesting way to "punish" the Russians, by giving them a free space station. I'm sure they'll think twice about cozying up to Iran after after that
Hey, while we're at it, lets give them a couple aircraft carriers too.
That'll show em a thing or two!
Imagine a whole page full of , that's my take on this plan.
Originally posted by xmotex
I'd argue it's far more vital to get a permanent human foothold in space
Uh thats what NASA's plans of building a base on the Moon is all about...
Originally posted by xmotexWe'll never get anywhere if we abandon every project every time the political winds change.
Having us (the U.S) finish the ISS is like starting a house in the 1990's getting half way done and realizing you didn't really need a house in the first place. You're saying we should finish it even if we don't plan to live in it...
Originally posted by xmotex
Having us (the U.S) finish the ISS is like starting a house in the 1990's getting half way done and realizing you didn't really need a house in the first place. You're saying we should finish it even if we don't plan to live in it...
If you'd already spent $15 billion dollars on the house, then yeah, I think it'd be pretty dumb to abandon it halfway through. Let me get this straight, is your primary problem with the ISS that it was a cooperative venture with the Russians, Europeans & Japanese?
If they had cut the progrom at the $15 bill mark that would be about $90+ bill in savings. What exactly do they due in the space station that is so fantastic and worthwhile?
Originally posted by ArchAngel
If they had cut the progrom at the $15 bill mark that would be about $90+ bill in savings. What exactly do they due in the space station that is so fantastic and worthwhile?
Mostly they maintain the experiments that require micro-gravity which cover the entire range of science.
For every experiment that gets a ride to the station there are a thousand others that sit on the ground waiting with little hope.
If anything we need much more of a space station just to carry out the most important experiments.
Originally posted by ArchAngel
If they had cut the progrom at the $15 bill mark that would be about $90+ bill in savings. What exactly do they due in the space station that is so fantastic and worthwhile?
Mostly they maintain the experiments that require micro-gravity which cover the entire range of science.
For every experiment that gets a ride to the station there are a thousand others that sit on the ground waiting with little hope.
If anything we need much more of a space station just to carry out the most important experiments.
Originally posted by xmotex
If you'd already spent $15 billion dollars on the house, then yeah, I think it'd be pretty dumb to abandon it halfway through. Let me get this straight, is your primary problem with the ISS that it was a cooperative venture with the Russians, Europeans & Japanese?