Congressmen express opposition to Tito's ISS flight
Posted: Sat, Feb 10, 2001, 9:42 AM ET (1442 GMT)
Two prominent members of Congress have said in recent days they are opposed to plans by Russia to send California businessman Dennis Tito to the International Space Station later this year as a space tourist. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), chairman of the House Science Committee, said at an FAA commercial space conference Tuesday that he was not "overly excited" by Tito's trip. While expressing interest in the long-term prospects of space tourism, Boehlert said that "it's a little bit early yet" to send tourists to ISS. Rep. Ralph Hall (D-TX), ranking minority member of the House Science Committee, expressed similar concerns in a letter sent this week to NASA and published by NASA Watch. "I am strongly opposed to the flight of any 'space tourists' to the International Space Station during its assembly phase," he wrote, adding that he could not justify putting ISS "at risk" to benefit a single private citizen. It's not clear what Congress could do to block the Russian flight to ISS, except for pressuring NASA to ask the Russians to cancel the April 30 flight or make other efforts to block it. NASA and Rosaviakosmos officials plan to meet this month in Houston to discuss this issue.
Two prominent members of Congress have said in recent days they are opposed to plans by Russia to send California businessman Dennis Tito to the International Space Station later this year as a space tourist. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), chairman of the House Science Committee, said at an FAA commercial space conference Tuesday that he was not "overly excited" by Tito's trip. While expressing interest in the long-term prospects of space tourism, Boehlert said that "it's a little bit early yet" to send tourists to ISS. Rep. Ralph Hall (D-TX), ranking minority member of the House Science Committee, expressed similar concerns in a letter sent this week to NASA and published by NASA Watch. "I am strongly opposed to the flight of any 'space tourists' to the International Space Station during its assembly phase," he wrote, adding that he could not justify putting ISS "at risk" to benefit a single private citizen. It's not clear what Congress could do to block the Russian flight to ISS, except for pressuring NASA to ask the Russians to cancel the April 30 flight or make other efforts to block it. NASA and Rosaviakosmos officials plan to meet this month in Houston to discuss this issue.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
