Space bargains

Cutbacks by NASA may give Russia the chance to dominate construction of the
International Space Station. A forecast budget overrun of $4.8 billion
over the next four years means NASA must cut $1 billion off its spending
on the ISS, so planned components may be axed. The Russian Space Agency says it
could provide replacements at far less cost, and double the accommodation
capacity to six astronauts. “Building up the station without increasing the
number of the crew means that no time is left for any scientific programmes,
because all the crew’s time is spent on maintaining the station,” argues…