Space Station Partners Bicker Over Closure Date

jcdick1 writes "The current partners in the ISS are in discussion regarding the closure date of the space station, even though it still has not been fully assembled. 'The United States insists it will pull out of the station at the end of 2015 while Russia wants its life prolonged, said European Space Agency (ESA) chief Jean-Jacques Dordain at an astronautics congress in Hyderabad, southern India. NASA administrator Michael Griffin has told space station partners that the US agency has no plans for "utilization and exploitation" of the science research lab for more than five years after it is completed, Dordain said.'"

Comments

Sticking to the Plan

[Nymz]

The Space Shuttle program ends in 2010, and Orion won't be operational until 2015. So all station access will be limited to Russian launches for those 5 years, so how much sense does it make for NASA to continue funding it at the expense of other science and space programs?

As for 'like-a-spoiled-child-on-to-the-next-toy dept' editorial, you can always go buy your own toys if that's how you show your appreciation. Listen, we all understand that America is greater in many areas, so a little envy is expected and tolerated, but a spiteful entitlement attitude is too much, and only reveals the depth of your lack of character.