[FPSPACE] NASA wary of relying on Russia

[Edwin Cameron]

Thanks, Dave, for the update.  I knew it was much more than just Unity, and trusses, but didn't have it all off the top of my head.  I was at KSC for the Unity launch, so that one I remembered well, and should have remembered the two in production at that time in the clean rooms.  But, I think Jakob's point is still well taken, and what initially was supposed to be an answer to MIR, in competition, became ISS, in an uneasy cooperation, such as it has been.  Does it matter who puts the biggest flag into orbit?  Perhaps it does, politically, but it wasn't supposed to be up there for political gain, as I recall.  But, having seen the longer side of sixty years some time ago, I do have those Senior Moments!
   
  Ed Cameron

palladium at aol.com wrote:
  
<ISS. And according to my knowledge they are Krunichev made and
Krunichev is Russian. So ISS is 90 % Russian.>>

Wow, that's quite an assertion. OK, let's do the math.

The Russian components to the station, Zarya, Zvesda, and Pirs, add up 
to 92,603 pounds.

The U.S.-built components, Unity, Harmony, Destiny, and Quest, add up 
to 98,970 pounds.

The Columbus module is 28,219 pounds.

This does not count the U.S.-built integrated truss structure and solar 
panels, which come to about 260,000 pounds total.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't seem to make any of the above add 
up to a 90% Russian station.

<>

Looks that way. Looks more the U.S. contribution comes in at more like 
like 45% when counting total inhabitable volume (with the Russian 
segments at 42% and the Columbus module making up the balance) and 
about 75% when counting total structural weight.

<wanted
to bring they cancelled. They only made the Truss.
Did I forget something?>>

Apparently so.

<Everything was delayed or cancelled . But not by the russians>>

But the Russians did cancel a number of planned modules, including the 
Science Power Platform. The only major component outright cancelled by 
the Americans was the centrifuge laboratory.

Just wanted to set the record straight.

D.S. Michaels