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NASA, Pols Cringe at Space Station Costs

Washington standoff delays funding, key nomination

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 11, 2009 3:56 PM CDT

(Newser) – After years of wrangling, the US and other operators of the International Space Station have resolved to keep the facility operating through 2020, but the 5-year extension deal is creating new challenges, the Wall Street Journal reports. Washington will need to fork out at least $10 billion, which could cut into NASA’s $18 billion budget for moon exploration projects.

No one in Washington wants to take political heat for turning out the lights on the popular space station. Muddying matters, disputes between Congress and the White House have stalled the nomination of a new NASA administrator and could delay moon landings. Still, other nations are eager to keep up the ISS, and NASA expects Russia to pitch in by sending US astronauts to the station for the next few years.

In this image provided by NASA Astronaut Richard Arnold participates in the mission's first scheduled spacewalk to connect the S6 truss segment to the International Space Station Thursday March 19, 2009. The blackness of space and Earth's horizon provide the backdrop for the scene. On Saturday afternoon, astronauts Steven Swanson...
In this image provided by NASA Astronaut Richard Arnold participates in the mission's first scheduled spacewalk to connect the S6 truss segment to the International Space Station Thursday March 19, 2009....   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image provided by NASA shows the International Space Station photographed by a STS-119 crewmember Tuesday March 17, 2009 as the Space Shuttle Discovery and the station approach each other during rendezvous and docking activities. The astronauts began their high-priority girder work Wednesday, a two-day job that will culminate with...
This image provided by NASA shows the International Space Station photographed by a STS-119 crewmember Tuesday March 17, 2009 as the Space Shuttle Discovery and the station approach each other during...   (AP Photo/NASA)
The international space station is photographed from the space shuttle Endeavour.
The international space station is photographed from the space shuttle Endeavour.   (AP Photo/NASA)
Discovery crew members enter the international space station.
Discovery crew members enter the international space station.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
In this image from NASA TV, the international space station begins the process of opening new solar wings while orbiting Earth, Friday, March 20, 2009.
In this image from NASA TV, the international space station begins the process of opening new solar wings while orbiting Earth, Friday, March 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Rob
Apr 13, 2009 12:57 PM CDT
We obviously do need the manned moon mission, for many reasons and not just for scientific ones. And as for feeding the hungry, read some Malthus for Christ’s sake.

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