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Accident Prompts Congressman to Call for Safety Review

Last Wednesday's collision between an unmanned Progress supply module and the Mir space station has prompted a key member of Congress to call for a full review of the safety of the station before any additional Americans are allowed to stay there.
     Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), chairman of the House Science Committee, called on NASA to voluntarily comply with legislation already passed by the House that would require a full safety review of Mir before additional Americans go to the station.
     "I, for one, can no longer sit idly by as mishap after mishap occurs while we continue to plan the next shuttle mission to Mir hoping for, but not really expecting, the mission will succeed without a potentially life-threatening situation," he said.
     Language in the Civilian Space Authorization Act, passed earlier this year by the House of Representatives, would require a full safety review before the joint Mir missions could continue. That bill has not been passed by the Senate yet.
     "The review should be initiated immediately and be concluded in advance of any decision to send the STS-86 crew to Mir as scheduled for September," Sensenbrenner said.
     White House spokesman Mike McCurry said that President Clinton remained "committed to the program".
     Russia's ability to remain as reliable partners in the International Space Station program may also be questioned because of this incident. "Congress certainly will be concerned about Mike Foale's safety," said Congressional space policy analyst Marcia Smith, "and add to concern about whether Russia is a viable partner for the new International Space Station."

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