Shuttle may be launched to repair faltering space station

The first two modules of the International Space Station are the Russian-built Zarya, left, and the U.S.-built Unity.

January 9, 2000
Web posted at: 6:06 p.m. EST (2306 GMT)

From Space Correspondent
Miles O'Brien

HOUSTON (CNN) -- NASA managers are close to giving final approval to launch an additional space shuttle mission in March to perform critical repairs and maintenance to the fledging International Space Station and keep it safely in orbit until a permanent crew arrives -- perhaps as late as next fall.

The first Russian component of the space station, the Zarya space "tugboat," has been in orbit since November of 1998. It is nearing the end of its certified unmanned life expectancy, and some problems are cropping up.

Of most concern: Zarya's complement of six batteries. Two have been taken off line entirely; the other four are not holding a charge from Zarya's solar arrays effectively.

NASA's current plan is to send the shuttle Atlantis with the crew that would have flown to the space station after the next component -- the Russian Zvezda Service Module -- had been attached. The crew has been training to stock Zvezda with supplies and activate its systems.

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Now it appears that mission will be split into two flights. During the added flight, which will fly no earlier than March 16, the crew will change out Zarya's batteries and chargers, repair a communication link to Houston and conduct one spacewalk.

Part two of this mission will be launched shortly after the Service Module reaches the station, whenever that may be. NASA has not decided if all members of the same crew will fly on both missions.

A final decision on will be made in the next week, once the Russians solidify their launch schedule.

The consideration of an additional shuttle launch comes amid growing concern that Russia will not be able to launch Zvezda, a critical component of the $30 billion orbiting outpost, until summer -- nearly two and a half years after originally hoped. Zvezda will serve as a command and control center, early crew living quarters and includes the propulsion system that will keep the station in its 220-mile-high orbit.

Zvezda is at Russia's primary launch complex, the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan. NASA and Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RASA) officials insist the 42,000 pound module is ready to fly.

But there are lingering concerns about the type of rocket that will deliver it into low-Earth orbit. Two of the last four Proton launches have ended in failure -- most recently in October.

The accidents have prompted some design changes to the Proton. Russian officials are reportedly planning to launch at least three other Protons before they risk flying the Service Module.