Recent crashes of Russian rockets have prompted members of the Colorado congressional delegation to urge NASA to speed completion of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle — called Orion MPCV — being built by Lockheed Martin.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials said Monday they are considering bringing home the six astronauts on the $100 billion space station this fall, leaving it unmanned by year’s end.
The space station can be operated from the ground, but NASA officials said equipment failures could pose problems with no one there to fix them.
The Russians are investigating the causes of the Aug. 18 and Aug. 24 rocket failures. Since the space-shuttle program ended in July, the United States must rely on the Russians to ferry people and supplies to the space station.
U.S. Rep. Ed Perl mutter, D-Colo., said in a letter Tuesday to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden that the Russian crashes underscore the need to commit resources for “the timely completion” of Orion MPCV.
“Two failures in two weeks is unacceptable,” Perlmutter’s letter stated. “American astronauts should use American rockets and American capsules. . . . (Orion MPCV) demonstrated exemplary safety and functionality,” Perlmutter’s letter stated. “Additionally, investment in this next generation of space travel provides a significant number of jobs to people in Colorado and a positive impact to our nation’s fragile economy.”
In 2006, Lockheed Martin won NASA’s initial $3.9 billion contract to build the spacecraft, with about 4,000 people in the Denver area working on the program. Funding has been uncertain.
Colorado’s congressional delegation supports Orion, including U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, who issued this statement:
“The recent technical failures illustrate just how important it is for our country to have a reliable — and safe — alternative for space operations like transporting people and cargo. Orion is that solution.”
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
