GAO Cites Lack of Science on ISS

The US General Accountability Office has issused a 39-page report [PDF] targets the International Space Station for underutilization by the scientific community because of the retirement of the space shuttle fleet in late 2010 and the uncertainity associated with federal funding of the $100 billion orbiting facility national laboratory after 2015.

"[T]he uncertainty of the ISS program beyond its 2015 retirement date has deterred members of the scientific community from considering the station as a platform for fundamental research," GAO says.

The problem is compounded by the upcoming retirement of the space shuttle fleet after five more missions, and NASA's decision not to use Russian Progress capsules for cargo transport to the station after 2011. NASA is estimating an 88,000-pound shortfall in cargo capacity in 2010-15, and severe shortages in the ability to return samples and other scientific cargo to Earth.

Commercial vehicles NASA is counting on to ease the shortfall -- the SpaceX Falcon 9 and Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus II -- are behind schedule, as is the Ares I/Orion vehicle NASA is developing in-house. Developed under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) initiative with federal seed money, both commercial vehicles are critical to using the station for research, reports Frank Morring, Jr. at Aviation Week.

The GAO recommended seven executive actions to enhance the ISS based upon options of retirment of the facility in 2015 or extenting its operations into future years [most likely 2020]. The GAO indicates that it will provide the Congress with additional information depending upon the course of executive actions. The President is now reviewing space policy options at the White House.