Russian rocket throws lifeline to space station

Kazakhstan, Aug 29: Russia threw a supply lifeline to a two-man U.S.-Russian space crew in orbit on Friday, but dropped a heavy hint to the United States that it would like some financial help to keep its program going. The Progress rocket, Earth`s only supply link now to the International Space Station, was taking food, water, films and a satellite phone to American Edward Lu and Russia`s Yuri Malenchenko who have manned the outpost since late April.
But Russian space officials said they would welcome some financial input from the United States to help them handle the costly burden of supplying the $95 billion ISS single-handedly.
Russia has borne the brunt of manned flights and supplies to the 16-nation ISS since the U.S. space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated in February killing seven astronauts on board and grounding the three remaining Shuttles.
"This is becoming a very costly business for Russia," Yuri Semyonov, head of RKK Energia that leads Russia`s participation in the ISS, told Reuters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, after a spectacular lift-off.

"We will try to reach an agreement with the Americans, but there are annoying legal hiccups," he said without elaborating. "Today, we are trying to convey this problem to Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush."

"We do hope to find their understanding."

Bureau Report