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COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6125
Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration 300 E Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20546 Dear Mr. Goldin: Thank you for your letter outlining NASA's plan to direct $60 million of fiscal year 1998 International Space Station funding to the Russian Space Agency to facilitate completion of the Russian Service Module and other near-term elements. We recognize that this expenditure is only one step that will be needed to address fully the financial problems confronting the Russian government. We can not support your efforts to spend the $60 million at this time without a comprehensive plan from NASA on how the agency intends to handle this complex situation both in the near and long-term. Your comprehensive plan should address such issues as the replacement of Russian launch services and Station components, command and control capability, crew return capability, and propulsion requirements. The associated costs of addressing these issues should also be included in the plan. Your timely response to our letter dated September 23, 1998 would also be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Floyd DesChamps of our staff at (202) 224-8172. Sincerely
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