Posted
8/07/2004 02:30:00 PM
by Douglas
So what the heck are we supposed to do with it 'till the shuttle flies again? Everyone knows the Russians are strapped for
cash, but is this really the time to buy them out?
NASA is prepared to work with its international space station partners to address a new demand from Russia that the United States pay for the continued launch of astronauts and supplies to the orbital outpost, a space agency spokesman said Wednesday.
"That is an issue they can raise, and it will be worked through the partnership," said Glenn Mahone, NASA's public affairs chief.
Russia's cash-strapped space agency issued the demand earlier Wednesday, telling the ITAR-Tass news agency that it expects to be compensated if the United States uses the Soyuz spacecraft to shuttle astronauts and supplies to the space station in 2005, The Associated Press reported.
So does that mean if we kick the Russians away from the ISS table with their hands out, that we'll finally gain control of the space station that we've paid 90% of? What's the freakin' hold up?