NASA plans to ask American taxpayers for $660 million to allow the
cash-starved Russian Space Agency to complete its contribution to the
International Space Station. But with members of Congress increasingly annoyed
about the project鈥檚 spiralling costs, NASA is also scrambling for new sources of
money.
The first two components of the station, one Russian and one American, are
expected to be launched on schedule in November and December. But the third
component, the Russian service module, may not be ready in April as planned.
鈥淭he Russians have stated that they expect a two-and-a-half month slip,鈥� says
NASA spokesman Dwayne Brown. The service module is crucial because it carries
thrusters to keep the first segments of the station in their proper orbit.
NASA鈥檚 bale-out package includes an initial $60 million to buy Russian
space station hardware, including Soyuz re-entry vehicles. NASA officials hope
that the package will also ensure speedy completion of the service module. But
because the space station is so far over budget, NASA staff have been asked to
come up with novel fund-raising ideas.
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鈥淲e said: `Let鈥檚 be creative here,'鈥� says Brown. According to Science and
Government Report, a science policy bulletin, a report to be submitted to
NASA administrator Daniel Goldin suggests raising money from commercial sponsors
by displaying corporate logos at NASA press conferences, offering Hollywood
producers the opportunity to make movies aboard the station and even using it as
a hotel. While Brown says that this article overstates NASA鈥檚 intentions, he
confirms that billboard advertising at NASA events is addressed in the
report.
But some pundits argue that NASA has overlooked an obvious source of funding.
One of the reasons that Congress financed the multi-billion-dollar project was
that it would help occupy Russian engineers who might otherwise be transferring
missile technology to North Korea and other potentially unfriendly states. 鈥淚t鈥檚
an extension of the Department of Defense鈥檚 and the Department of State鈥檚
policy,鈥� says Charles Vick, a research analyst with the Federation of American
快猫短视频s in Washington DC. But as yet, NASA has not asked for funding from
these departments. Says Vick: 鈥淭hey need to change their attitude on that.鈥�