THE International Space Station is slipping further behind schedule because
of Russia’s failure to complete a key component. Meanwhile, the abandoned Mir
station may yet gain a new lease of life.
Russian officials have delayed the launch of the crucial service module that
will house the International Space Station’s first crew, originally scheduled
for 1998. Named Zvezda, or “star”, the service module will serve as a command
centre while the space station is assembled. Russia’s economic woes have caused
its construction by the Energia company of Korolev, near Moscow, to fall behind
schedule.
The latest date for the launch is…
