[FPSPACE] NASA wary of relying on Russia

[LARRY KLAES]

Look what a big deal was made over planting a Russian flag on
the bottom of the Arctic Ocean.

Hopefully the first flag planted on Mars will be one representing Earth,
but it might just as well be a major corporation.

Larry


>From: Edwin Cameron <nodin at sbcglobal.net>
>To: fpspace at friends-partners.org
>Subject: Re: [FPSPACE] NASA wary of relying on Russia
>Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:12:34 -0700 (PDT)
>
>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
>
>
>
>
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