"People need to calm down - Triana is going back in," a key source told SpaceDaily. "Look what we (House Republicans) are going to get for it," the source added.

The additions are Senate acceptance for increases to NASA's Future X space transportation program. All totalled House Repubs were seeking more than $100 million in money transferred from other NASA projects and from savings in outsourcing NASA information technology programs.

The deal was sealed by Democrats agreeing to go along with the measure on the House floor yesterday. It was also sweetened by House Science Committee Chair R. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and space subcommittee chair Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) voting to support an amendment by Rep. Tim Roemer (D-IN) to strip the Russians from the International Space Station partnership.

Although the amendment failed, the key Republican's support was another demonstration that if House Dems went along with the Triana removal from the House space budget bill, the leadership would allow it to be replaced in conference in order to gain the added space research spending.

Late Thursday, Senate sources told SpaceDaily that Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.), chair of the appropriations committee, has indicated support for Triana in return for the spending boosts sought by the House spacers.

The committee will approve the Senate's NASA spending either next week or when Congress returns from its Memorial Day vacation. The deal advances a key space transportation research program supported by House Republicans but which NASA has not fully funded in the FY2000 budget.

By holding Triana "hostage", Republican forces were able to force Democrats in the Senate to go over NASA administrator Daniel S. Goldin and increase funding for the transportation projects.

Some Congressional sources have said Future X is crucial to advanced space transportation plans should the X-33 program not evolve into an operational launch vehicle.

The boost in spending could also advance other space transportation designs that could serve as launch vehicle prototypes, and also fund the building and prototyping of new launcher concepts not now approved.

If the deal goes into effect this summer, it may make the 8,000 pound Triana satellite the biggest political football in recent Congressional history. Stay tuned.