Russia gives International Space Station a lift

Lobbyists in Moscow convinced the Russian Duma (parliament) to provide a shot in the arm to the country´s manned space program. In a last-minute move to preserve its nation´s role in the worlds largest space venture, the Duma unanimously approved a US $50 million increase in funding for the cash-strapped industry that provides critical hardware and services for the International Space Station. Besides bolstering Russia´s position in space, the Duma´s vote appears to avert the nightmarish possibility that the space station might have to be de-manned for some indeterminate period, a scenario under consideration at NASA in 2002. The new budget, boosting the total annual Russian spending for the manned space flight program to $130 million in 2003, will allow the Russian space contractor RKK Energia to complete critically needed supply ships and rescue vehicles for the long-duration crews of the station.