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NASA experts oppose space station mission
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NASA experts oppose space station mission
NASA?s decision to launch a fresh crew to the International Space Station came over the strenuous objections of scientists and physicians who raised safety concerns, The Washington Post reported yesterday.
The newspaper said two officials responsible for health and environmental conditions on the space station refused to approve the launch and instead signed a dissent that warned of risks posed by the deterioration of vital equipment aboard the orbiting laboratory. The dissenters warned about ?the continued degradation? of the environmental monitoring and health maintenance systems and exercise equipment vital to the astronauts? well-being.
NASA Administrator Sean O?Keefe told the newspaper on Wednesday that there is no immediate hazard to the crew, but that conditions could deteriorate in the next six months and force the crew to abandon ship. ?If there is any indication whatsoever that this situation is hazardous to their continued existence, or to their health, the answer is: Get aboard the Soyuz, turn down the lights and leave,? O?Keefe was quoted saying in an interview.
The new crew blasted off in a Soyuz capsule on Saturday from Russia?s Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and docked with the International Space Station on Monday. NASA astronaut, Michael Foale, and Russia?s Alexander Kaleri will spend 200 days aboard the orbital platform, while Spaniard Pedro Duque will carry out a week of experiments before returning home.
The Post reported that according to documents obtained by the newspaper, NASA?s flight team is unable to assess the quality of air or water and the radiation levels aboard the space lab. The report said some scientists and flight surgeons argue that it is too dangerous to maintain a crew under the current circumstances, while others fear that the facility could spin out of control and be lost unless astronauts are on board to handle potentially catastrophic problems.
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