NASA does not have the financial or managerial skills to handle the
International Space Station’s budget. That’s the devastating conclusion of an
independent review panel commissioned to investigate the station’s spiralling
costs, which are already running $4.5 billion over budget.
Dan Goldin, who is retiring as NASA chief this month, commissioned the review
in July after revealing the cost overrun. To keep the project on budget, the
Bush administration scaled down the station, dropping a planned habitation
module and crew return module that would be needed for a permanent crew of more
than three. Echoing complaints from scientists, commission chairman…
