CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 31 -- NASA's partners have agreed to postpone the start of the international space station until November to accommodate Russian delays with a module needed to house the first station crews. The new schedule, which was finalized during meetings this weekend at the Kennedy Space Center, targets the launch of the Russian-built, U.S.- financed propulsion module on Nov. 20 aboard an unmanned Russian Proton rocket.
The module, previously known as the FGB after a Russian acronym, has been renamed Zarya, which is Russian for 'sunrise.' The first U.S. station assembly mission would come less than two weeks later. The shuttle crew plans to attach a connecting node, named Unity, and two pressurized adapters, to the Russian module, as well as install computers and rudimentary communications gear. The station's third component, the Russian service module, would be launched in April, paving the way for the first international space station crew to begin its mission next summer. Other highlights of the revised assembly schedule include: launch of the U.S. laboratory module in October 1999; the Canadian robotic arm in December 1999; Japan's science lab in January 2002; Europe's lab in February 2003 and the final assembly flight in January 2004, when the station's permanent crew habitation module is installed. During the meetings, Russian space officials reiterated their commitment to the international space station program despite financial hardships that have caused delays. Officials said they were planning to be able to deorbit the Mir space station by July 1999, which would free up resources and rocket ships for the new station. NASA meanwhile will continue developing a backup control module which can be used to keep the developing station in orbit if the Russian service module is further delayed. ---
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