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| Arnaud De Borchgrave: Clumsy Diplomacy could trigger Cold War II |
| 2014-05-16 |
| [Newsmax] Before we plunge ourselves into Cold War II, it would behoove us to remember what Russia under Putin means to our geopolitical calculus. Putin's Russia is still supplying the U.S. with its only means of transportation to the international space station, the one area where the two nations still enjoy a close working relationship. But the latest crisis in U.S.-Russian relations prompted Moscow to announce that this crowning achievement of Russian-U.S. cooperation would end in 2020. The original agreement was good through 2024. The space station is a football field-sized, $100 billion multinational achievement made up of interlocking modules from U.S., Russian, Japanese, and European segments. Since the forced retreat of NASA's space shuttle program in 2011, NASA relies on Russia to ferry astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), continuously inhabited since Expedition I docked in 2000. Subsequent flights and dockings are scheduled through 2015. The last para is obviously OBE. I'm not keen on Newsmax, but thought this worthy of a read. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #1 Im a big fan of space but... • NASA's manned program has held us back since the shuttle compromises in the late 70s made the shuttle the primary cargo lift vehicle instead of the taxi it was intended to be. • NASA controls have and continue to limit private enterprise in Earth orbit. • ISS is a works program designed to keep Russian scientists busy and hasn't worked in that respect. Whole thing is planned to be deorbitted in next 5 years anyway. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2014-05-16 08:57 |