NASA’s Dan Tam does too good of a sales job – and places ISS science at risk.
(NASA Watch) The OMB passback on NASA’s proposed FY 2001 budget reduces the ISS budget by $174 million and “recommends that NASA either pursue commercial options with the private sector or delay or delete construction of the Habitation Module”.
This places TransHab on the critical path for ISS development. Should Dan Tam not get a deal in place this situation could backfire and the ISS would be stuck with the ability to only house a 3 person crew. NASA would have to go back to Congress to ask that funding for the Hab module be restored in order to get to the 7 person capability it advertises for ISS.
