While NASA Fiddles, Space Station Components Sit Idle On The Ground

NASA's international partners in the International Space Station are growing anxious about progress on the station's construction as the space shuttle program continues to struggle with technical problems and the resulting delays.

Take Japan, for instance. That country has $3 billion invested in the ISS. But its main contribution to the station, the Kibo lab module, sits on the ground at the Kennedy Space Center -- right next to the ESA's Columbus module. There are other parts of the still-to-be-completed station awaiting delivery to orbit. Trusses, solar arrays and a seven-sided control module for extra-vehicular operations are also piled up at the loading dock, awaiting transport into orbit.

But the long delay in flights after the Columbia disaster, exaserbated by the latest hold in the Return to Flight, have only fueled concern among ISS partners who are already worried about the pending retirement of the entire shuttle fleet.

"It is a concern," said Japan's space station program manager Kuniaki Shiraki, quoted by Reuters.

But NASA officials are firm in their belief that the shuttle has to be a-okay for flight before the shuttle program -- and the ISS's completion -- are back on track.

"If we intend to complete the International Space Station in the near future, then we have to make a decision that the (fuel) tank is good enough to fly," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said last week.

Even after the first couple of shuttle missions, completing the ISS will depend on progress in the Return to Flight effort. First and foremost will be eliminating the requirement to have a rescue shuttle prepped and ready to go in case of emergency.

"We will not for long be able to maintain a rescue capability and still maintain the station," Griffin said. He, too, was quoted by Reuters.

FMI: www.nasa.gov