The same question has been raised in the United States. Some critics say that's too much money to pay for a laboratory that's built to last just ten or fifteen years. They also say that by spending so much taxpayer money on the ISS, the federal government has less money to spend on research in laboratories on the ground. The money matter is just one of the criticisms. Some scientists believe the U.S. might have made bigger gains in space by building a permanent colony on the moon or by pushing on more rapidly to Mars.
Safety is yet another concern.
As at any construction site, the project can be dangerous. With so many rocket launches needed to get all the pieces into orbit, the chances are high that a major accident involving a shuttle or a Russian rocket will occur. Some critics favor the use of robots instead of humans to explore space. Yet another concern is the risk of relying on Russia. Given its shaky economic and political condition, some scientists question whether the Russians will be able to deliver the major parts of the station they've promised to build.