I was concerned about this...
From CNN: Reliance on Russia makes NASA weak
With international tensions rising in the wake of the Russia/Georgia conflict this week, I couldn't help noting that in just a couple of years, the only route to the International Space Station will go through Russia. NASA is retiring the space shuttles in 2010, and even the most optimistic estimates now put the first launch of the new Orion capsule toward the end of 2014. For at least four years, if you want to get to the ISS, you'll have to use the Russian Soyuz.
Granted, that's not very high on the priority list while the bullets are still flying and the tanks are still rolling. But this crisis will get worked out sooner or later, and then we'll have to look at the bigger picture. If American foreign policy takes a more hardline approach toward Russia, our space program is going to suffer. The Russians can cut us off, and there's nothing we'd be able to do about it.
Unless, of course, some private company manages to get into space during that time. It's a long-shot, I know, but there's nothing wrong with trying...
With international tensions rising in the wake of the Russia/Georgia conflict this week, I couldn't help noting that in just a couple of years, the only route to the International Space Station will go through Russia. NASA is retiring the space shuttles in 2010, and even the most optimistic estimates now put the first launch of the new Orion capsule toward the end of 2014. For at least four years, if you want to get to the ISS, you'll have to use the Russian Soyuz.
Granted, that's not very high on the priority list while the bullets are still flying and the tanks are still rolling. But this crisis will get worked out sooner or later, and then we'll have to look at the bigger picture. If American foreign policy takes a more hardline approach toward Russia, our space program is going to suffer. The Russians can cut us off, and there's nothing we'd be able to do about it.
Unless, of course, some private company manages to get into space during that time. It's a long-shot, I know, but there's nothing wrong with trying...
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