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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 7/97 NASA AND ESA KEEP SPACE STATION ON COURSE by Wolfdietrich Hoeveler While the financing of the European part of the International Space Station (ISS) stands on solid ground, the only real difficulty in the program is the financial struggling of the Russian partner, explains ESA director for manned spaceflight Jörg Feustel-Büechl in an exclusive interview with FLUG REVUE. Still, the ESA director says that it must be acknowledged that the Russian space agency RSA continues its work in Russia's difficult economical situation. He continues, saying that there are no insoluble technical, organizational or industrial problems. Still, Russia's financial problems are endangering the entire program and its European part in particular. Since the Russian partner is responsible for some program-vital components, the American administration made all efforts to move the Russians to adhere to the time schedule. A first success is the allocation of 800 billion Rubles (approximately DM230 million) for the RSA, personally ordered by President Jelzin and particularly earmarked for the works on the space station. Also, NASA worked out back-up options to cope with possible delays and to minimize the risks. The program is still supported by a broad political acceptance, says Jörg Fuestel-Büechl. ESA's program part is concerned by the Russian problems not only because the European space laboratory COF (launch 2002) is contributed but also because important components from Europe are needed soon for the assembly of the station. Of the scheduled 41 assembly flights, the Europeans are contributing with 14 flights major components for the station assembly. "Each launch delay would be directly impacting the program cost, either by having to maintain the industry teams or because of the need to store completed hardware", says the ESA director. Furthermore, the just recently launched ESA campaign to attract more users would suffer from delays. While initially scientific applications are planned, such as astronomy, microgravitation, earth surveillance and technological development, Feustel-Büechl says that in some of these areas timely industrial tasks with a commercial background are desirable. The ESA ministers have attached their willingness to cover the basic sum in the utilization phase of the space station on clear expectations concerning the industrial and commercial utilization. Due to this the ESA director's primary goal is currently to counteract any possible launch delay. During a recent visit to the USA, Fuestel-Büechl and his team reached a good understanding with NASA for the European wishes. Both organizations are striving to minimize the effect of the delays on the European contribution. Germany is contributing approximately 41 percent of the entire cost of the European participation. An aequivalent program share will flow back as contracts to the German industry. According to Feustel-Büechl, approximately three quarters of the earmarked volume, about three billion Marks, will be given to the industry by the end of 1997. From page 42 of FLUG REVUE 7/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 7/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated June 4, 1997