Russian Invasion of Georgia Might Jeopardize Space Station

mknewman writes "Sen. Bill Nelson, one of NASA's biggest proponents on the Hill, is openly questioning how Russia's military intervention in Georgia will affect our access to the space station after the Shuttle is retired in 2010. Currently, NASA is able to use Soyuz vehicles for crew access and lifeboat operations thanks to an exemption from the Iran Non-Proliferation Act. The exemption expires in 2011, only one year after the Shuttle is due to head to the museums."

Comments

Re:When push comes to shove

[justdrew]

so you don't even know what Georgia did to provoke the response do you? Do you even know the bush assholes have been hostile and engaging in encircling Russia since the day they took office as if the cold war never ended? We provoked this idiot maneuver out of Georgia but they get to pay the price.

and......

[pablo_max]

Seriously... who cares? Without the shuttle, there is no need for the ISS. They only exist to give reason for the others existence. The shuttle was useless and spending all that time in LEO with a skeleton crew with no time for real science makes the ISS useless IMO.
I say NASA should strap some motors on that POS and send it out to L1 and use it as a supply depot or a "just in case" spot on the way to the moon.
I have always hated the shuttle and the ISS.

Re:Russia's ressponse was reasonable and justified

[krazytekn0]

Georgia killed 6 people... Russia has killed thousands of Georgians.
Also of note is the fact that Russia staged this two front military effort in less than 12 hours, before Putin left the Olympics... Sounds like a pre-planned deal just waiting for an excuse to me.

typically, your numbers are dead WRONG

[justdrew]

even if it was only six, which it wasn't, no fucking way is that even close to right, remember Georgia had 24+ hours before there was significant Russian response, during which they proceeded with ethnic cleansing operations all over the place.

Re:US manned spaceflight ends in 2010

[New_Age_Reform_Act]

Not to mention the American GNP grows much faster than the debt.

Re:Russia has ultimate weapon.

[MightyMartian]

You keep lying to yourself, if it makes you feel better. Serbia is forever crippled. The Russians may bellow about Kosovo from time to time, but you Serbs have been a thorn in their ass as much as Europe's. That's the real irony. You Serbs were so violent, hateful and maniacal that even your natural overlords cried only a few crocodile tears as your country was permanently carved up.