Russia Finds ISS Cupboards Bare

SPACE TRAVEL

With two Russian modules docked already at ISS and a Progress to boot, Russia is straining to keep ISS funding afloat for the remainder of 2000.

Moscow (AFP) October 4, 2000
Russia has already spent this year's budget for the International Space Station but the cash crunch should not delay the first long-term flight to the orbiter later this month, officials said Wednesday.

In a statement, the RKK Energiya corporation which is part of the space project admitted that Russia had "practically exhausted its resources" for the ISS.

"We have enough money to carry out the bare minimum that we promised this year," an Energiya official said, who asked not to be named. Next year's budget would have to be revised upwards, he added.

Space industry constructors however agreed Tuesday that the Soyuz space craft would blast off as planned on October 30 with its three-man US-Russian crew, Energiya said.

US astronaut William Shepherd and Russian counterparts Sergei Krikalyov and Yury Gidzenko are due to remain aboard the ISS until February 2001, when a US space shuttle will bring them back to Earth.

Two Russian-built Progress resupply craft are due to blast off for the ISS in November this year and February 2001, said Energiya.

They will ferry water, food, technical equipment to the station, an ambitious project involving 16 countries including the United States and Russia.

The enormous structure, which will weigh 450 tonnes and measure 108 metres (yards) long and 74 metres wide when completed, is due to remain in space until 2013.

All rights reserved. � 1998 Agence France-Presse. All information displayed on this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

SPACE TRAVEL

Russia, India Study Joint Space Station Proposal

Moscow (Interfax) Sept. 27, 2000
Russia and India are studying the possibility of joint basic research in the international space station Alpha, Russian Aerospace Agency director general Yuri Koptev told Interfax on Tuesday.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.