NASA announces next ISS crew, launch may be delayed
Posted: Tue, Apr 1, 2003, 10:51 PM ET (0351 GMT)
NASA announced on Tuesday the names of the two members of the Expedition Seven crew scheduled to fly to the International Space Station later this month, even as Russian officials suggested the launch would be delayed. NASA confirmed earlier reports that NASA astronaut Ed Lu and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko will make up the Expedition Seven crew. The crew is scheduled to launch on a Soyuz on April 26 to relieve the one Russian and two Americans currently on ISS. While NASA said in a statement that the launch was still scheduled for April 26, Rosaviakosmos director Yuri Koptev told Itar-Tass that the launch might be delayed until early May. Koptev didn't explain why the launch could be delayed until May 10, only that a final decision about the launch date would be made in early April. Russia has been lobbying the US to provide money to support the construction of additional Progress cargo spacecraft to supply the ISS while the shuttle remains grounded; the US to date has declined to send money, citing an Iran nonproliferation law that prevents the direct transfer of funds to Russia.
NASA announced on Tuesday the names of the two members of the Expedition Seven crew scheduled to fly to the International Space Station later this month, even as Russian officials suggested the launch would be delayed. NASA confirmed earlier reports that NASA astronaut Ed Lu and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko will make up the Expedition Seven crew. The crew is scheduled to launch on a Soyuz on April 26 to relieve the one Russian and two Americans currently on ISS. While NASA said in a statement that the launch was still scheduled for April 26, Rosaviakosmos director Yuri Koptev told Itar-Tass that the launch might be delayed until early May. Koptev didn't explain why the launch could be delayed until May 10, only that a final decision about the launch date would be made in early April. Russia has been lobbying the US to provide money to support the construction of additional Progress cargo spacecraft to supply the ISS while the shuttle remains grounded; the US to date has declined to send money, citing an Iran nonproliferation law that prevents the direct transfer of funds to Russia.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 12
Philip Plait on the Wonders of the Universe
The Browser — 7:00 pm ET (0000 GMT) Young girl's curiosity of science leads to becoming first African-American woman in space
US Air Force — 6:58 pm ET (2358 GMT) Cleveland-built testing equipment ready for space
AP — 6:57 pm ET (2357 GMT) Out of this world! Video shows spectacular view of moon and Northern Lights from space
The Daily Mail — 6:56 pm ET (2356 GMT) Final ‘go’ for Vega launch
ESA — 10:27 am ET (1527 GMT) |