Posted: Thu, Sep 19, 2002, 10:36 AM ET (1436 GMT)
A report issued Wednesday by the National Research Council sharply criticized the scientific plans of the International Space Station, noting that the orbiting facility currently has no clear primary goal. The report concluded that decisions to reduce the size of the crew, delay or remove scientific facilities, and reduce the number of shuttle flights servicing the station have all hurt the ability of the station to carry out scientific studies. "Without a solution to the crew availability problem, and other limitations in facility access and operations, the ISS can never achieve the status of a world-class research laboratory," the report noted. The report suggested that NASA crate a cross-disciplinary research plan with clear scientific objectives, and also coordinate better with the ISS's international partners.
