But it also underscores what desperate straits the program is in. He eventually got it, not from Russia's cash-starved government, but from the private profits of the space firm that is building the rockets to lift the station modules into orbit. It was the same debilitating, exhausting process that confronts every state or private Russian contractor that creates something for the space station, from the ground receivers that will enable astronauts to communicate with Earth to docking equipment for the station to spacesuits. To say it spoils my sleep is to put it mildly. These are my thoughts at night.
Anxiety is the hallmark of Russia's space program today.
The station was to be a glorious new episode in the history of the Russia's ventures into space, a demonstration to the world of both Russia's storied expertise as well as its newfound willingness to work with the West toward a common goal. Instead, it is turning into yet another symbol of Russia's fall from superpower status. The ruble-short Kremlin simply cannot fund the work, and only by frantic begging and borrowing has Russia so far clung to its position as a primary partner in the project. But it must scrape up still more money to finish and launch the service module, a key component. The launch has been put off three times.