NASA and Congress clashed in a debate over the future of the ISS while the increasing space capabilities of China and Russia loom in the background. NASA is expected to deliver a second transition plan for the International Space Station in a couple of weeks. US Congress members pressed the organization to deliver robust results, but the two sides still don’t appear to be seeing eye-to-eye.
The latest string of events taking place in the new space race has Congress members worried. The ISS emergency spin caused by the Russian Nakua module and the structural integrity of the station has made it abundantly clear that the aging spacecraft will need to be replaced soon. On top of that, the impressive growth of China’s space program including its Mars and Lunar rovers, and new space station, pose a threat to NASA’s perceived off-world dominance. Deteriorating US-Russia relations and NASA’s efforts to boost private investment in space technology are also a big consideration as NASA and lawmakers butt heads over what route to take.
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At the hearing of the US House Committee of Science, Space, and Technology, Congress members expressed concerns over the future of the ISS and the risks of low earth orbits being dominated by China and Russia. Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told Congress that China is actively building a coalition in space, recruiting international commercial customers and government allies including some of US space partners. “Whoever leads this decade will set the de facto rules and standards for space exploration and space resources exploitation,” Harrison said. NASA told Congress that the deterioration of the US-Russian relationship and the utter lack of ongoing cooperation with China are affecting the space program and are opportunities lost.
“What’s The Plan?” Congress Presses NASA
When questioned on the plan, Robyn Gatens, Director of the ISS said that NASA’s transition plan requires the extension of the lifespan of the ISS until the year 2028 and the creation of multiple commercial LEO space stations while monitoring the health of the ISS. NASA is also focused on developing a functional low earth orbit economy by attracting commercial markets and securing the participation of international partners. Private participation through companies like Sierra Space and SpaceX would save NASA a billion dollars a year, the director told Congress.
Captain William Shepherd, former astronaut, and ISS expert disagreed strongly with the director. Sheppard said that the integration of systems will become a problem if the private sector is not guided. The recent Blue Origin lawsuit and the delay it causes for the Artemis moon mission was referred to as an example of the kind of problems that arise when the private sector comes into play. Captain Sheppard also warned that the cracks in the ISS are a “serious problem that needs to be cleared if the plan is to extend the life of the ISS until 2028”.
NASA told Congress that the rational choice was clear, to push the ISS hardware far beyond the anticipated lifespan or to open the door to a new chapter of US leadership by developing multiple LEO commercial stations. NASA urged Congress to open new communication channels with China and reignite relationships with Russia for the benefit of the US. Which flags will be hoisted in the future low-earth-orbit stations is the question which NASA and the US Congress are still working to figure out.
