Lobbying To Shrink The Gap

Space race over, but some don't want to ask Russians for a ride, The Hill

"With the breakup of the Soviet Union, the concern is less about national security and proving which country's worldview is correct than it is with more terrestrial worries like money and jobs. With some irony, lobbyists note in meetings on Capitol Hill that America's former communist foe would have monopolistic powers to charge what it likes to take astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), a program led by the United States and Russia that is scheduled to be completed in 2010. ... Meanwhile, the United Space Alliance added the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group to its roster of outside lobbyists, which already included Van Scoyoc Associates."

Insight Into Soyuz Ballistic Reentry

Internal NASA Documents Give Clues to Scary Soyuz Return Flight, IEEE Spectrum

"Although the technical investigation will take weeks to resolve, NASA and Russian engineers have come to several credible preliminary conclusions. And internal NASA documents, such as "15S Ballistic Entry Outbrief" by George Kafka, chief of the Safety & Mission Assurance Directorate for the ISS program, reveal a plausible idea of what probably happened."

South Korean Astronaut Hospitalized for Back Pain

Korea's First Astronaut Hospitalized after Rough Landing, Telecoms Korea

"Korea's first astronaut has been hospitalized due to severe back pains caused by a rough return voyage, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said Tuesday."

SKorea's first astronaut says still feels some pain, AFP

"South Korea's first astronaut Yi So-Yeon returned home Monday, saying she still feels some pain following her unorthodox re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere."

Post Landing Audio Interview With Peggy Whitson Released

Audio file

Editor's note: According to NASA HQ Public Affairs: "this is an audio file of Peggy Whitson's interview with NASA Public Affairs Officer Rob Navias recorded soon after her landing aboard the Soyuz on Saturday. During the interview, Whitson states that some rescuers were there because of a fire. For clarification, the Soyuz capsule landed near an area where Kazak farmers were burning grass off the steppes. The fire was not related to the Soyuz landing."

Despite multiple questions from the media as to what was reported by the crew and others about the Soyuz reentry, no mention was made by NASA personnel of this JSC PAO interview during a media telecon earlier today. Subsequently, NASA HQ PAO promptly released the original JSC audio after multiple media requests were submitted for this audio.

NASA not worried about Soyuz space capsule's bumpy ride home, AP

"Saturday's bone-jarring landing happened after the capsule went into an unplanned ballistic re-entry. The Russians thought they had solved the descent problem after it cropped up last October and NASA agreed with their original analysis that a frayed wire was to blame, Gerstenmaier said."

- NASA Official Plays Down a Troubled Soyuz Landing, NY Times
- Soyuz spacecraft safe despite botched landing: NASA, Reuters
- A Scary Return to Earth, Washington Post
- Did a short circuit cause spacecraft's steep descent?, New Scientist

Just How Dangerous Was That Soyuz Reentry?

NASA Offers Only Minor Insight Into Soyuz Off Course Landing, SpaceRef

"Gerstenmaier was rather reluctant to get into any specifics preferring instead to defer, and to "let the Russians get the spacecraft back, dump the data from its computers, and allow the commission that has been established to look at what happened". He would repeat this caveat more than a dozen times during the press teleconference."

Space crew's hard landing raises hard questions, MSNBC

"How on earth did the Russians lose track of the descending spacecraft? Why did alarming details of the landing -- including the ignition of a brush fire that set the collapsed parachute ablaze and filled the landed spacecraft with smoke -- take so long to reach the public?"

Report: Soyuz capsule nearly burned up, AP

"A Russian news agency says the crew of the Soyuz capsule that landed in Kazakhstan this weekend after an unexpectedly severe descent was in serious danger. Interfax quotes an unnamed space official as saying that the capsule entered the atmosphere improperly, with the hatch first, instead of with heat shields leading the way. The official says the hatch suffered significant damage. The official also says the capsule's antenna burned up during the descent, meaning the crew could not communicate properly."

Spacecraft's Shaky Descent Under Scrutiny, CBS

"The capsule apparently entered the discernible atmosphere in an unusual orientation and was subjected to relatively violent buffeting until the attached section finally broke away, as planned in such scenarios, allowing the descent module to settle into a normal heat- shield-down orientation. The failure of the lower propulsion module to cleanly separate is believed to have forced the craft into a steep, so-called ballistic re-entry."

Just Send Rubles

Russia will not need space tourism when space program well financed -analysts, Interfax

"There are plans to manufacture four Soyuz spacecraft in 2009 to launch crews to the ISS," [Vitaly Lopota, the president of the Energia space rocket corporation] said. If the Russian space program was financed in full, Russia would not need to make money on space tourism, Krasnov said. "If we lack money, we will have to launch space tourists," he said."

Russia looks at all options to invest its oil billions abroad, Times Online

"Russia could soon follow the Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and invest billions of dollars in direct overseas investments if, as expected, its national welfare fund is given more freedom to invest."

Editor's note: Interesting how the govenrment-owned Energia is now using a quasi-state controlled news outlet to lobby for increased government funding for Russia's space program. One upon a time Russia's space program was so broke the only way to could continue was with outside financial help - from the U.S. and selling seats on Soyuz flights. Now, I guess, those Russian petro-Rubles are easier to find. Too bad. In retrospect, the commercial space traveler program has given the ISS a more cosmopolitan face since its inception and has injected some actual commercialism into the otherwise (multi) government-controlled ISS.

Anatoly Perminov: Superstitious Throwback or Just Sexist?

Russian space capsule misses landing by, AP

"Later, [Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly] Perminov was asked about the presence of two women on the Soyuz, and referred to a naval superstition that having women aboard a ship was bad luck. "You know in Russia, there are certain bad omens about this sort of thing, but thank God that everything worked out successfully," he said. "Of course in the future, we will work somehow to ensure that the number of women will not surpass" the number of men. Challenged by a reporter, Perminov responded: "This isn't discrimination. I'm just saying that when a majority (of the crew) is female, sometimes certain kinds of unsanctioned behaviour or something else occurs, that's what I'm talking about."

Editor's note: In the U.S. such a comment about would result in an adverse job action - at a minimum. This is more than bad translation: Perminov stepped in this three times. One of the women mentioned is a NASA civil servant. Will NASA respond? We'll see.

Rough landing, Free Space/Discovery News

"Whitson surely could have done without the crash landing of the Soyuz capsule which because of a technical glitch dove through the atmosphere much steeper than planned, subjecting the crew to 10 times the force of Earth’s gravity -- nearly triple the usual force. But what was really unnecessary were the off-color comments of yet another Russian official regarding women in space. Whitson, you may remember, was given a going-away gift by her Russian hosts of a whip."

Rough Reentry for Expedition 16 Crew

Station crew OK after Soyuz capsule lands short of target, SpaceflightNow

"At a Russian news conference, Russian officials said the crew was in good health after a "controlled, ballistic decent. The crew feels great, all of them. ... The reasons for the ballistic descent will be investigated after the descent module will be delivered to the Energia Corporation."

No More Progress Purchases

NASA Wants All-commercial ISS Resupply

"NASA will not ask Congress for permission to continue buying cargo space on Russian Progress resupply vehicles for the International Space Station (ISS) after 2011, opting instead for an all-commercial approach under its nascent Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. Administrator Michael Griffin has sent a letter to Capitol Hill specifically excluding Progress from a request to continue using Russian Soyuz capsules to deliver crew to the ISS after the shuttle retires in 2010. Griffin had no immediate comment, but William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for space operations, said April 16 that NASA believes one of the commercial vehicles in development under the COTS program will be able to meet its ISS-supply needs."

Russia Talking About 9 Person ISS Crew

Putin orders construction of new space launchpad, vows to give boost to space industries, AP

"Perminov said Friday that Russia may stop selling seats on its spacecraft to "tourists" starting in 2010 because of the planned expansion of the international space station's crew. He said the station's permanent crew is expected to grow from the current three to six or even nine in 2010. That will mean that Russia will have fewer extra seats available for tourists on its Soyuz spacecraft, which are used to ferry crews to the station and back to Earth."

Russia Dumps Male Korean Astronaut for Rules Infraction

S. Korea Announces Woman as First Astronaut, NY Times

"The Russian space agency has stressed that a minor mistake and disobedience can cause serious consequences in space," Mr. Lee said at a nationally televised news conference. "So the honor of becoming South Korea's first astronaut now goes to a woman."

First Korean Astronaut Switched to Woman, Korea Times

"A 29-year-old female mechanical engineer was belatedly filled in Monday as the first South Korean in space, after Russia's space authorities dismissed Seoul's original choice on security rule violations ahead of next month's mission. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology told a news conference that Russia's Federal Space Agency asked for Ko San's replacement, as the 31-year-old repeatedly broke training protocol by taking sensitive training material outside of the Russian space center."

Weldon Responds To Washington Post Article

Growing Crowd Joining Weldon To Criticize Plan to Cede Space Leadership to Russians and Chinese

"For five years or more, the United States will be dependent on the technology of others to reach the (international space) station, which American taxpayers largely paid for. To complicate things further, the only nation now capable of flying astronauts to the space station is Russia, giving it a strong bargaining position to decide what it wants to charge for the flights at a time when U.S. - Russian relations are becoming increasing testy," the story says. "Given Russia's recent track record, it is also likely that Russia will use this advantage to extort geopolitical concessions from the United States government; concessions that will remain hidden from public view."

Looking Across The Looming Gap

NASA Wary of Relying on Russia, Washington Post

"Griffin has testified that while the waiver is essential, it is "unseemly, simply unseemly, for the United States -- the world's leading power and leading space power -- to be reduced to purchasing services like this. It affects, in my view, how we are seen in the world, and not for the better." NASA's budget calls for spending $2.6 billion for transportation to the space station between fiscal 2009 and 2013. As it stands now, much of that would go to the Russians."

Sputnik Thoughts

Spacemen are from Mars, Economist

"Fifty Years ago the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite. Sputnik burst into orbit on October 4th 1957, in the midst of the cold war. It was a surprise to the world, a shock to many Americans, and the starting gun for the space race between the superpowers. Thereafter, America vied with the Soviet Union for supremacy in aerospace's equivalent of "mine's bigger than yours", as successively taller rockets lobbed larger payloads further afield."

Secrets of 1957 Sputnik Launch Revealed, AP

"... 50 years later, it emerges that the momentous launch was far from being part of a well-planned strategy to demonstrate communist superiority over the West. Instead, the first artificial satellite in space was a spur-of-the-moment gamble driven by the dream of one scientist, whose team scrounged a rocket, slapped together a satellite and persuaded a dubious Kremlin to open the space age."

Sputnik's Legacy, James Oberg

"The 'flight revolution' of my grandfather's lifetime, a transportation technology quantum leap, brought peoples and places on Earth much closer together. It changed exotic foreign lands and their inhabitants into neighbors, for good or for ill. It changed each person's own native land into just another country, one of many. Sure, the communication revolution helped too, but airplanes were "the point of the spear"."

ISS Shut Down in 2015-2016?

Russia to send manned mission to the Moon by 2025 - space agency, Novosti

"The agency chief said that in 2016-25, after the ISS is put out of operation, Russia plans to deploy a platform in a low-earth orbit to assemble spacecraft. The United States has said the station should be scrapped in 2015, while Russia has proposed using the Russian segment until 2020. Perminov said: "The ISS will be transformed into a laboratory complex where research will be conducted."

Editor's note: Let's see: NASA spends 1984-1998 designing and then building the ISS; 1998-2010 deploying and completing it (that's 26 years) and then only 5-6 years using it in its completed configuration? Sadly, this is more than just bad translation and Russian arm waving. And NASA wonders why some in Congress question NASA's current plan to implement the VSE?

No Drinking On Soyuz

Russian official denies report astronaut drunk on Soyuz space flight, AP

"We categorically deny the possibility that this could have happened at Baikonur," Igor Panarin, spokesman for the Russian Space Agency, Roskosmos, told the Associated Press. "In the days at Baikonur before the launch this is absolutely impossible. They are constantly watched by medics and psychiatrists."

NASA/ROSCOSMOS Meeting

Head of ROSCOSMOS A.N.Perminov had meeting with NASA deputy-administrator Shana Dale, Roscosmos

"4 June 2007, in ROSCOSMOS, A.N.Perminov held meeting with NASA deputy-administrator Shana Dale. They discussed questions of cooperation in perspective directions of space-explorations (Moon and Mars missions) and the questions of international cooperation (in space exporations)."

Russia and China Are Headed For Mars

China details Mars exploration with Russia, Reuters

"China and Russia will mount a joint effort to explore Mars and one of its moons in 2009, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday following an agreement to boost cooperation between the two ambitious space powers. A Russian rocket will lift a Chinese satellite and Russian exploration vehicle to survey Mars and Phobos, the innermost and biggest of the red planet's moons, the China Daily reported, citing China's National Space Administration."

Rift Between US and Russia - Or Bad Russian/English Translation?

Bleak outlook for Russian-U.S. space cooperation, RIA-Novosti

"The fact that Washington has stopped mentioning the ISS conforms with the logic and nature of U.S. statements. [Russian Federal Space Agency director Anatoly] Perminov said the United States is no longer setting forth any specific manned-mission directives. Russia would be unable to operate the ISS on its own, even with active EU assistance. The United States plans to scrap its shuttle fleet in 2010 and forget all about the ISS program. The Russian Federal Space Agency and NASA were expected to sign a contract on the sale of Russia's Soyuz and Progress spacecraft in the near future. This would have guaranteed subsequent U.S. involvement in the ISS program. It turns out, however, that this contract will not be inked anytime soon."

Russia Shuts Off China's Access to Space Tech

Russia Won't Transfer Space Technology, AP

"Anatoly Perminov, chief of Russia's Federal Space Agency, said Moscow and Beijing would cooperate in robotic missions to the moon. He added, however, that Russia would maintain restrictions on sharing technology. Russia sold China the technology that formed the basis of its manned space program, which launched its first astronaut in 2003 and two others in 2005. The Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft closely resembles the Russian Soyuz."

A Brilliant Space Design Observation

Court extends detention of Russian space firm chief, RIA Novosti

"Analysts say Russian technology may have formed the basis of China's manned space program, with two successful orbital missions carried out to date."

Editor's note: DUH - have you folks ever looked closely at a Shenzhou? It sure wasn't copied from Apollo.

Klipper and Orion Sighted On-orbit

Editor's note: If you look at the high resolution version of this photo of the Expedition 14 crew and Anousheh Ansari eating, you will see a small scale model of Russia's proposed Soyuz replacement "Klipper" on the Service Module cabin wall to the right of Yuri Gagarin.

Of course, if you look at the high resolution version of this image above Pavel Vinogradov's head - and to the right of the Army pennant - you will see a scale model of Orion's command module.

Farewell Kliper, Hello (Again) Soyuz?

Kliper: too many unknowns, RIA Novosti

"Overnight everything changed. Late in June, speaking at the Farnborough aerospace show, the Roskosmos leadership suddenly announced that they were suspending the [Kliper] tender and would instead adopt a multi-stage program of creating a space transport vehicle. Now the main emphasis is on the time-tested orbital workhorse, the Soyuz spacecraft."

Investing In Soyuz Production

Russian space corporation set to double Soyuz rocket output, RIA Novosti

"Russia's leading spacecraft corporation intends to double the production of piloted Soyuz spacecraft with the help of foreign investors, the company's head said Wednesday."

Editor's note: Who are these "investors" - U.S. taxpayers?

(Not) Passing On Important Information

Behind the beautiful Soyuz launch: overcoming a communications emergency (Jim Oberg), SpaceReview

"So at the latest launch, it’s merely a minor embarrassment on the part of NASA official Geveden's incorrect "happy talk" commentary, since the Americans who really needed the information had gotten it-and he wasn’t on that list. Nor was it really worth bothering anyone else at the launch viewing stand, including the wife of one of the crewmen, who was at the launch."

NASA Buys Soyuz Rides

NASA to pay Russia for Soyuz rocket trips, Reuters

"The United States, which beat Moscow in a race to the moon during the Cold War, will pay Russia $21.8 million per astronaut for a lift aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, the U.S. space agency NASA said on Thursday. The fare is slightly more than the world's first "space tourists" forked out for a ride into space with the Russian craft."

President Signs INA Amendment

Statement by the Press Secretary, White House

"On Tuesday, November 22, 2005, the President signed into law: ... S. 1713, the "Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act of 2005," which amends the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to apply its provisions to Syria; broadens the Act to cover acquisitions from as well as transfers to Iran and Syria; and authorizes payments to Russian entities for certain work performed or services rendered related to the International Space Station; and"

Senate Passes INA Amendments, 9 Nov 2005

Russia: NASA Has Placed Soyuz/Progress Orders

NASA to buy 4 spacecraft in Russia, RIA Novosti

"NASA is planning to order two Soyuz manned spacecraft and two Progress cargo ships from the Russian Federal Space Agency on a commercial basis for missions to the International Space Station, the head of a Russian aerospace corporation said Friday."

NASA to send astronauts to ISS on Russian Soyuz spacecraft, RIA Novosti

"Earlier NASA had planned to use shuttles [to carry astronauts] but the number of their flights were reduced from 28 to 17," Nikolai Sevastyanov said. "Today NASA can buy Russian spacecraft... including Soyuz craft that dock with the ISS once every six months, and are used as rescue spacecraft."

Senate Passes INA Amendments

NASA Administrator Griffin's Statement on Cooperation With Russia

S.1713 : An Act to make amendments to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 related to International Space Station payments, and for other purposes.

"Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Resolving differences / Conference -- Senate actions. Status: Senate agreed to House amendment and title amendment by Unanimous Consent."

Is Anyone Paying Attention To Reality on the 9th Floor?

- NASA Photo ISS012-E-05002 (12 October 2005)

"Astronaut William S. McArthur Jr. (left), Expedition 12 commander and NASA science officer, and cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarev, flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, participate in congratulatory greetings to the guests of the Gala Night Celebration dedicated to the 75th Anniversary of the renowned Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) from the Zvezda Service Module of the international space station."

Editor's Update: It would seem that Joe Davis made a "strategic communication" decision and deleted this image from the ISS website - as if a simple website deletion will make the problem - and the ill-advised decision making that led up to it - just go away. The original link to the image no longer works. Nor is there any mention of the photo in the official image archive for Expedition 12. For the sake of accuracy, this is what the original page looked like and this is the original hi res image. Yet another example of an agency unable to admit its errors.

Editor's Update: I just got the following response from NASA HQ PAO: "Keith, the Moscow event was a private downlink and should not have been part of public images available online. We apologize for the confusion and don't believe removing the image represents any inconsistency in agency policy." Oh well. I guess I still don't understand why any event was conducted involving NASA personnel and an organization under U.S. government trade actions for selling rocket technology to Iran. Indeed, it was formally scheduled - the ISS Crew Timeline for 12 October 2005 shows: "19:10-19:35 TV ISS-MCC Greetings dedicated 75th Anniversary of MAI (То=19:10, Т1,Т2, Т3 from СПП)". Clearly the HQ Office of External Relations wasn't in the approval loop for this. Or has this sort of diplomatic decision making been delegated to JSC?

- Statement by John A. Lauder, Director, DCI Nonproliferation Center to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Russian Proliferation to Iran's Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missile Programs, 5 October 2000

"Russian entities have helped the Iranian missile effort in areas such as training, testing, and components. These entities vary in size and cover a wide range of specialties. The scope of assistance is illustrated by the variety of organizations that have been subjects of US trade restrictions. ... Further, trade actions have been imposed against two major educational entities, the Moscow Aviation Institute and the Baltic State Technical University."

Editor's 23 Oct note: Is this an attempt to try and rehabilitate the image of the Moscow Aviation Institute after being hit with U.S. trade actions for its dealings with Iran, or is this another instance where NASA PAO is utterly oblivious to what ill-advised message such a PR stunt sends as NASA pins its hopes for INA relaxation - at a time when some in Russia are making public statements about wanting to help Iran with its rocket programs? Is this what Joe Davis calls "strategic communication?"

- Russians help Iran with missile threat to Europe, The Telegraph

"Rice, the US secretary of state, clashed with Russian officials over Iran's nuclear programme during a visit to Moscow yesterday, saying that Teheran must fulfil its obligations under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty."

- Moscow Angrily Denies Russia’s Role in Iran Missile Program, mosnews.com

"Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov angrily refuted a British newspaper report alleging that former members of the Russian military have been secretly helping Iran to make missiles capable of hitting European capitals. The top official dismissed allegations as "sheer nonsense"."

- Companies Blacklisted for Iran Links, Moscow Times, 5 April 2004

"The other Russian entities that remain on the blacklist are the Baltic State Technical University of St. Petersburg, Glavkosmos of Moscow, the Moscow Aviation Institute and the D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia."

- Nonproliferation: What you need to know about Treasury Restrictions, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury

"MAI (a.k.a. MOSCOW AVIATION INSTITUTE), wherever located, including 4 Volokolamskoye Shosse, Moscow 125871, Russia [64 FR 2935, January 8, 1999]"

- U.S. penalizes Russian institutions accused of helping Iran, CNN, 12 January 1999

"The three -- the Scientific Research and Design Institute of Power and Technology, known by the Russian acronym NIKIET; the Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology; and the Moscow Aviation Institute -- join seven other institutions sanctioned last July for similar cooperation with Iranian agencies."

Iranian Satellite Launched by Russia

First Iranian satellite launched, BBC

"The Iranian satellite was joined by others from China and Europe Iran launched its first satellite into space from Plesetsk in northern Russia on Thursday, joining a select club of countries."

Mesbah 1 information

"various intelligence sources report that the satellite will also have limited surveillance capabilities and will be used by Iran to gather intelligence information on neighboring countries including American bases in Iraq, the Gulf and Israel."

House Passes Its Own Version of INA Bill

Editor's note: This evening the House engaged in 40 minutes of floor debate on its own version of S. 1713 and then passed it by a voice vote.

House Floor Debate: Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act of 2005

Rep. Calvert Applauds Passage of the Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act

Rep Boehlert's Floor Statement on S. 1713

House Passes Iran Nonproliferation Act Amendment to Help U.S. Space Program

"The bill the House passed tonight would amend the INA to allow the U.S. to continue paying the Russians for services necessary to operate the Space Station until 2012.  The Administration had originally sought language that would have, in effect, eliminated all limitations on payments to the Russians.  The Senate version of the bill would have prevented payments after 2012, but would have allowed the U.S. to pay before 2012 for services that would be rendered after that date."

Editor's 25 Oct note: The House is scheduled to take up S. 1713, "A bill to make amendments to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 related to International Space Station payments", this Wednesday. 

History Almost Repeated Itself

Space crew weathers a scare during re-entry, MSNBC

"As the Soyuz descent module headed back to Earth, instruments indicated that air was leaking out — the same kind of failure that killed three cosmonauts in June 1971 on their way home from the world’s first space station, Russia's Salyut 1."

INA Update

Russians help Iran with missile threat to Europe, The Telegraph

"Rice, the US secretary of state, clashed with Russian officials over Iran's nuclear programme during a visit to Moscow yesterday, saying that Teheran must fulfil its obligations under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty."

Editor's note: As if this is going to make modifying the Iran Nonproliferation Act vis-a-vis buying Soyuz and Progress flights any easier ...

How Much to Paint A Flag in Your Rocket?

Photo Report: Orbital Module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle transported to the Launch Vehicle Assembly and Testing Facility, RSC Energia

Editor's note: I find it rather indicative of the true nature of the US/Russian relationship with regard to the ISS that the only time an American flag appears on a Russian launch vehicle carrying an American to the ISS is when one of the Americans on board is a paying (commercial) passenger. When Europeans fly (i.e. pay), their nation's flag appears on the launch vehicle. When a NASA/ESA/Russia barter deal (to circumvent INA) gets an American on board - no flag. Curious.

McArthur To Be Held Hostage On-Orbit - Or More Shoddy Russian Journalism?

Russia May Refuse to Return U.S. Astronaut to Earth Free of Charge

"Beginning from the next space expedition Russia will deliver U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station only on commercial basis. William McArthur who has just left for ISS can stay in orbit until the American side pays for his return, RIA Novosti reported."

NASA Memo: Griffin Point Paper on USA Today Article, 9/28/05

"NASA and Russia confirmed at the Flight Readiness Review meeting for the next crew for the international space station on Sept. 19 that NASA Astronaut and Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur will have a ride back to Earth next April on the same Soyuz that will bring him to the station this October."

Griffin Steps In It Again

NASA chief: U.S. may end flights with Russians, AP

"NASA's top official said today that the future of U.S participation in Russian space flights is in doubt due to a congressional measure that aims to punish Moscow for its cooperation with Iran."

Editor's note: Who is advising Griffin on this issue? The last time I checked Congress was looking forward to revising the INA to help NASA. Going to Russia and trying to scare the Russians by pinning all of this on Congress has had one effect: to annoy Congress. This is not the best way to get people to do NASA a favor.

NASA Seeks Clearance to Buy Russian Technology, Washington Post

"Yesterday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced a bill amending the law to allow both NASA and U.S. corporations to purchase Russian space equipment until 2012."

INA Action in the Senate

Senate Passes S. 1713 Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act of 2005 With Space Station Amendments

Editor's note: S.1713 "A bill to make amendments to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 related to International Space Station payments", introduced by Sen. Lugar, passed the Senate by unanimous consent yesterday (21 September). The House has yet to take up this legislation.

Earlier post: NASA to Get INA Relief

INA Update

NASA Seeks Clearance to Buy Russian Technology, Washington Post

"Unless Congress or the president acts, no U.S. astronaut will have access to space after the Soyuz flight scheduled to fly to the station on Sept. 30. The shuttle was grounded again after the flight of Discovery resulted in renewed foam-shedding problems."

S.1713, A bill to make amendments to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 related to International Space Station payments. Sponsor: Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] (introduced 9/15/2005)

NASA to Get INA Relief (Letter from Mike Griffin and Condoleezza RIce)

INA Action on the Hill

Iran Act Changes Affecting NASA Could Pass House Soon, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

"Changes to the Iran Nonproliferation Act to allow NASA to buy Russian space goods and services could see legislative action starting next week."

Europe and Russia to Build Kliper

Europe to Join Russia in Building Next Space Shuttle, IEEE Spectrum

"It's all but official- Russia and Europe will soon embark on a cooperative effort to build a next-generation manned space shuttle. Speaking at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, France, in June, Russian space officials confirmed earlier reports from Moscow that their partners at the European Space Agency would join the Russian effort to build a new reusable orbiter, dubbed Kliper."

Soyuz Prices Are Going Up

Soyuz spacecraft to cost NASA $65 million, RIA Novosti

"The Russian Space Agency Roscosmos will sell a Soyuz spacecraft, a carrier rocket and launch services to NASA for some $65 million, if the American agency approves the deal, a Roscosmos official told journalists Thursday."

October Soyuz: Tourist or Crew?

Space Adventures' Orbital Spaceflight Candidate, Greg Olsen, Confirmed to the Soyuz TMA-7 Crew

"Space Adventures announced today that American technology entrepreneur Gregory Olsen, Ph.D. has been confirmed to the Soyuz TMA-7 crew which is currently planned for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 1 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan."

Editor's note: With the grounding of the Shuttle fleet it will be interesting to see if this third seat will be used for a sightseer or someone who will actually work aboard the ISS.

DIffering Views on Russian "Competition"

US willing to pay for Russia's help in space, Nature (subscription required)

"[University of Maryland physicist and former Russian space official Roald] Sagdeev says Griffin's view of Russia as a competitor is misguided, given that country's "miserable space budget". But he adds that cooperation with Europe is now a higher priority for the Russian space programme than cooperation with the United States."

US and Russia to Partner on Moon Missions?

Russian Federal Space Agency Considering NASA Invitation to Fly to the Moon, MosNews

"Russian Federal Space Agency is considering U.S. invitation to participate in the Moon flights program, Russian Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov told a Tuesday news conference at the Interfax main office."

More Grandiose Pronouncements From Russia

Russia ready to take lead on space station, MSNBC

"Russia is prepared to take over if the United States decides to scale back its support of the international space station, a Russian space official said this week."

Editor's note: Show me the Rubles.

NASA Reverses The Tables on Russia

Time running out for space station deal, MSNBC

"Yet another NASA source privately advised that the current flap was a part of the "hardball negotiations" but he revealed that NASA negotiators were pulling some hitherto-unrecognized aces out of their sleeves. This person, who requested his name not be divulged, said that the precipitating event was not next April's Soyuz mission, but a seat aboard the STS-121 shuttle flight now slated to follow the first shuttle mission in May. "In response to Russia announcing they will charge the U.S. for Soyuz seats after 2005," the source explained in an e-mail, "NASA is charging Russia for their nationals to ride on the shuttle."

Is the Ukraine Following in Russia's Footsteps?

NASA, Ukraine prepare flights to moon, UPI

"NASA and the Ukrainian space agency are preparing unmanned flights to the moon under a joint project, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported."

Ukraine recognised that it delivered cruise missiles to Iran and China, Itar-Tass

"Ukraine has recognised that it delivered 12 cruise missiles to Iran and six to China, The Financial Times said on Friday, quoting Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Svyatoslav Piskun."

Its The End of the World as We Know it

30 December 2004: Analysis: U.S.-Russia teamwork unraveling, UPI

"Therefore, Perminov's announcement should not be seen simply as a reflex of financial pressures on Russia's space program. It is, rather, a red light warning that the long era of easygoing U.S.-Russian cooperation in space is rapidly coming to an end. And that could be the harbinger of far worse problems to come."

Editor's note:The author of this article, Martin Sieff, has clearly not been keeping tabs on the U.S./Russian space relationship over the past decade. Such statements and posturing by the Russians are a regular feature of that relationship and often serve as a preamble or opening salvo for discussions wherein issues are usually resolved to the satisfaction of both sides. Also, I find it odd that this author could delve into the topic of who pays for what (and why) and not mention the Iran Nonproliferation Act, which constrains what the U.S. can and cannot do, and the huge sum of money that was paid by the U.S. to keep Mir going for a number of years in the mid 1990s. Despite the gloomy scenario painted in this article, things are not as bad as Mr. Sieff suggests (at least not yet). As far as human spaceflight - and the ISS - goes, for the at least the next decade, Russia needs the U.S. just as much as the U.S. needs Russia.

Photos of Klipper Online

Have a look at this collection of photos of Energia's full scale mock-up of what its new Klipper crew transport might look like.

1 December 2004: Next-generation Russian spaceship unveiled, MSNBC

"But significant roadblocks still remain between today’s unveiling and the fulfillment of Ryumin’s boast. The actual first test flights of the vehicle, perhaps about 2010, will require funding levels that the Russian government has so far been unable to provide."