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NSIAD-00-96R 1 (2000-04-28)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaalot0001 and id is 1 raw text is: im A. GAO Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States General Accounting Office National Security and Washington, DC 20548 International Affairs Division B-284687 April 28, 2000 The Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. Chairman Conmittee on Science House of Representatives Subject: Space Station: Russian-Built Zarya and Service Module Compliance With Safety Requirements Dear Mr. Chairman: NASA invited Russia to participate in the International Space Station program in 1993 with the expectation that Russian involvement would reduce the cost, speed up the schedule, and increase the usefulness of the space station.' The Russian-built Zarya and Service Module are critical to the early stages of the space station's assembly. The Zarya module, launched by Russia in November 1998, provides the initial propulsion and guidance functions for the space station. Zarya was funded by NASA and is therefore considered a U.S. element of the space station. Zarya was built for NASA by a Russian company under a subcontract to NASA's space station prime contractor. The Service Module, whose launch has been delayed until at least July 2000, will provide living quarters, life support systems, and guidance functions after docking with Zarya. Russia is funding, building, and launching the Service Module as part of its contribution to the space station. Russia also plans to contribute Progress resupply vehicles, Soyuz crew transfer and emergency return vehicles, a power platform, docking and stowage modules, and research modules. (See encl. I.) Working with the Russian space agency and other international partners, NASA is responsible for establishing overall space station safety requirements. NASA is also responsible for certifying that all elements and payloads, and the space station as a whole, are safe. NASA has established a formal review process for certifying the safety of space station elements and approving waivers of safety requirements. Russia has agreed that its elements will meet or exceed the overall safety requirements established by NASA. Russia has also agreed to provide NASA with data to support safety reviews and certifications. NASA must approve all waivers of safety requirements before it can approve launches of U.S. and partner elements. (See encl. II.) 'Space Station: Update on the Impact of the Expanded Russian Role (GAO/NSIAD-94-248, July 29, 1994). GAONSIAD-00-96R Space Station Safety