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Russia urges US to ditch Iran qualms to save ISS
By Clara Ferreira-Marques
February 20, 2003

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia urged the United States on Thursday to abandon worries over Russian military cooperation with Iran and give Moscow funds to keep the International Space Station in orbit.

A top Russian space official denied Moscow was cooperating on nuclear weapons and missile technology with Iran, branded by Washington with Iraq and North Korea as part of an "axis of evil."

U.S. shuttles, which carried a crew of seven, fuel and heavy equipment to the $95 billion station, have been grounded since the Columbia disintegrated in mid-air this month. Without the U.S. workhorse, the station depends entirely on Russian craft.

But Russia's cash-strapped space agency has said it cannot carry the financial burden without U.S. funds -- withheld by legislation which forbids extra financing until Moscow proves it is not assisting Iranian ballistic missile programs.

"We are counting on a sensible and fair approach from our partners," Rosaviakosmos head Yuri Koptev told reporters.

"To overcome this law, our NASA colleagues must prove there were situations where there was a threat to U.S. security, and of course there were none," Koptev said. "We are placing our hopes in wisdom, in their understanding of the situation and in the closer relationship between our countries."

EUROPE KEY TO ISS SURVIVAL

Russia has said it will use all means -- including supplementary budget funds and loans -- to preserve the ISS. But Koptev said that without U.S. cash to fund costly but essential extra launches, Russia would have to look to Europe.

"It is hard to expect (aid) from Japan and Canada, but we hope Europe will be able to provide help," he said, adding the European Space Agency should be allowed to participate more actively in regular work aboard the outpost.

"Our partners must also participate, not just stand in line with no prospects," he said.

European astronauts could in the near future be sent to the ISS as permanent and not simply visiting crews. Since the ISS was first manned in 2000, the 16-nation station has been managed by permanent crews made up of Russians and Americans.

Currently, the ISS is operated by two U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut, in orbit since November. They were due to return to Earth in March aboard the Atlantis shuttle, but their return now depends on a Russian Soyuz craft which will carry up a replacement crew of two or three members.

Koptev said a question mark still hung over the timing of the launch and size of the crew but expected it to be early May.

Rosaviakosmos has said the ISS's current crew -- able to return to Earth at any time aboard an emergency capsule attached to the station -- would not be marooned in orbit without food or fuel. But Koptev said water would run out around July or August.

The space agency also called on the Russian government to meet its financial promises and allocate more funds to space or risk watching Russia slip further into the background.

He said Russia would need $250 million to develop its part of the station over the next three years.

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