> Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:02:36 +0000
> From: [email protected]
>
> NASA's lack of money or commitment doesn't prevent the other countries in the
> consortium from using the station past
> NASAs cut off date. It doesn't have to die just because the US say so.
>
As a practical matter if the US were to pull out of ISS the station would not
be viable. Most if not all of the major support hardware (solar arrays etc)
are US built and maintained..without US involvement the TDRSS system disappears
for instance..The "bucks" required to maintain the station are enormous...
It doesnt matter because anyone who thinks that the political system in the US
would allow spending almost 100 billion to build ISS then chunking it after 5
years of "use" doesnt understand US politics...ISS will be around for a very
long time.
Robert WB5MZO
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to on
Facebook.
http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009
_______________________________________________
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
