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Russian
Docking Module Launch Faces Delays
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The Docking Module,
the next Russian element of the International Space Station (ISS),
being manufactured by RKK Energiya, has entered final testing. The
module's construction was behind schedule due to financial problems.
While there are still technical and financial issues to resolve, RKK
Energia plans to ship the element to Baikonur in March or April in
preparation for the launch on a Soyuz rocket in June 2001. The
flight was planned for June 1, but now will not launch before the
end of June. Energiya still needs US$1 million in funding from  Rosaviacosmos
to purchase subsystems for the orbital tug, which will deliver the
Docking Module from its initial orbit to the station. The Russian
government has approved the budget, but Rosaviacosmos has yet to
allocate funds to individual projects.
The Docking Module
will provide a hatch 1-meter in diameter and an airlock for
Extra-vehicular Activities (EVAs) from the Russian segment of the
station. (NASA plans a larger airlock attached to the US segment of
the station.) This Docking Module will also provide a third docking
port for Progress spacecraft, which will resupply the station. The
Docking Module will occupy the nadir (Earth-facing) port on Zvezda.
The delivery flight of the Docking Module will also be used to
transport a third space suit and a second Strela deployable boom to
ISS.
Two
larger Energiya built elements for the station remain suspended due
to lack of funds. The development of the Science Power Platform,
which is expected to provide solar panels, radiators and a robot arm
for the Russian segment, has been halted at the initial construction
stage. The large Docking Module, known as UDM, which was to provide
additional life-support capacity for the Russian segment exists only
on paper. RKK Energiya is trying to find "non-government"
solutions to the funding problems by paying for the construction
through commercial deals with Western partners or scaling back the
elements.
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