WASHINGTON (States News Service) -- A $28.8 billion NASA spending bill that caps costs on the
International Space Station and blocks funds to build Transhab, an inflatable module meant for the station, is set to become law.
Despite initial opposition to such provisions, President Clinton is expected to sign the bill as early as this week after the Senate overwhelmingly approved it last week.
The bill provides a two-year blueprint for NASA spending. It offers $14.2 billion in 2001 and $14.6 billion in 2002 and increases funding for space science and aeronautics a total of $309 million more than the president had requested.
The bill would limit United States operational costs at $25 billion, and includes other provisions to clamp down on
Russia's participation in the project that has experienced cost overruns and a two-year delay.
The Clinton administration had opposed an earlier version of the bill, objecting to the cap, but NASA spokesman Dwayne Brown said, "the bottom line is...those numbers [in the cap] are sufficient for us to continue with our plan with no impact."
The cap includes a 20-percent contingency fund in case of emergencies. It would prevent NASA from spending more than $17.7 billion on
space shuttle launches to bring equipment to the station.
The Senate Commerce Committee released a statement hailing the bill's passage.
"I think this is a critical step at a pivotal time," said
Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) in the statement. "It is timely given that the expected rate of flights to the station will increase to about nine over the next year."
Another controversial provision blocks government work on Transhab, an inflatable module to replace station components. The bill would allow a private contractor to build Transhab if the module were proven useful.
NASA and some Democratic lawmakers had pushed to restore the project, but House Science Committee spokesman Jeff Lungren said they reached a compromise that ensures "the liability will not be squarely on the taxpayers on this."
The measure contains provisions aimed at reducing reliance on Russia to finish building the space station by 2006, and seeking some retribution for Russia's problems.
The bill urges
NASA Administrator Dan Goldin to seek to reduce Russia's rights to participate in science missions on the space station if the country falls short of its spending commitments. Russia is still considered a critical participant, providing the Soyuz vehicles to deliver key parts.
NASA must also confirm -- before entering into any space launch or space science agreement with China -- that any U.S.-China partnership wouldn't strengthen China's missile capability at the expense of the U.S. launch industry.
Congress is now poised to pass another bill that is a top priority for the space launch industry.
The measure would extend U.S. government-backed insurance, or "indemnification" for commercial space launches. The bill is meant to encourage U.S. competitiveness with other countries by providing government-backed insurance of risky launches.
The House is to vote Wednesday on the Commercial Space Transportation Act, which would clear it for the president's signature.
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