STS-88 got assembly of the International Space Station off to a great start as the Unity Node was added to the Zarya FGB module in a series of EVA's. The shuttle crew left the station ready for the next assembly mission next year.

The first attempt ot launch STS-88 faltered in the first late in the countdown scrub of a shuttle-station docking mission. With seconds left before launch, investigation into an alarm ended and while the explaintion was being braodcast to the launch director precious seconds lapsed and the count was picked up a second too late. Although the count proceeded for several seconds more, controllers eventually halted the countdown when it was clear that launch would be a second too late as the critical window to meet the Zarya (FGB) module already in orbit passed out of reach.

The press pressured launch officials about the poor timing of events, but they defended that they process worked as intended and that it was simply unfortunate timing.

The next day however it was evident that communications were much crisper and to the point as STS-88 launched to carry the Unity module to meet with with Zarya module to begin construction of the International Space Station.

Endeavour's RMS grapples Zarya as seen from a camers on Zarya with the shuttles payload bay in the background	Zarya is positioned next to Unity and PMA-1 for docking
Astronauts on Endeavour use laptop PC's as flight aids during docking	Jerry Rose and James Newman prepare in Endeavour's airlock for an assembly EVA
Only the space suit (EMU) helmet lights illuminate the work area during the night portion of an orbit, as an early communications antenna isinstalled on Unity	Cable connectors are attached as Zarya and Unity are permanently joined to form the core of the ISS
A stuck TORU antenna on Zarya (left center) and a deployed TORU antenna across the foreground	EVA along Zarya
In the floor of Zarya,wires obscure defective electrical components to be replaced	The STS-88 crew during a press conference

The next launch, the Russian Service module, is due in July but that is in doubt by most observers even after a $60 Million NASA bail out in late 1998. The Serivce module is currently at RKK Energia in Korolev outside Moscow having major systems installed. Currently 30 major systems have been installed and work is continuing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Electrical testing is underway, but software has already been hinted at by Russian officials as a point of concern, its due to be tested in February 1999. Some rumors place a more realistic launch date in August 1999.

If a massive effort is reqired to launch the Serivce Module on schedule, and there is no doubt it can be done, the bigger concern is how to keep it in orbit once it gets there. A continual stream of resupply flights of Progress will be needed to keep the station in orbit. So far, 4 Progress are under construction, 2 for launch in 1999 and 2 in 2000. 2 Soyuz crew transports are being built, the first of which will be used in 2000 by the first crew.

The Russians are more candid about the status of the remaining Russian contibutions to the ISS. The most important parts, the Science Power Platform components, the Docking Compartment and Universal Docking Module are "not in good shape" for meeting their launch schedule according to Russian Space Agency Chief of Manned Spaceflight Branch Mikhail Sinelschikov.

Financing is the primary problem which is solvable but only with great exertion. Russia's financial condition is terrible, banks are not nearly as relaible as western intsitutions, the government is printing money in an attempt to pay its internal debts reducing the value of the Ruble, and external debts may be restructured for payment in the years ahead if a strict austerity budget is passed. All of these problems need to be solved for Russia to pay for its space station committments. Suffice it to say that Russian's modules after the Service Module will no doubt be delayed without further western aid. That will effect inital research done on the ISS primarilly due to the shortage of power supplied from the Russian SPP module's.

Mir Doubts

The thorn in the side of ISS development is Russia's continued support of the Mir space station, draining funds from completing the ISS. Russia has a conflict of interest with Mir and ISS, on Mir Russia is in total control and can claim 100% credit and national pride, while on the ISS Russia is in a gray area between one of many contributors and a subcontractor to NASA which makes all the decisions.

Mir support, even if de-orbited in 1999, will require 3 Progress and 1 Progress-M resupply craft which are already under construction. The first Progress-M is due to be completed in May 1999.

An agreement was signed between NASA and the Russian Space Agency on destroying Mir in 1999, but RKK Energia which owns and operates Mir is planning to keep it going on its own with an assortment of commercial projects. Finances had to be in line by the end of 1998, and RKK Energia in the final days of the year claims to have commercial support it needs to extend Mir's life past 1999 but the details have not been disclosed. To be sure, NASA observers who roam the factories in Russia will be watching for any ISS hardware, especially the Progress and Soyuz, from being diverted to Mir use. It is clear to all that additional supply vehicles to support Mir beyond 1999 will impact the progress of the ISS which needs the same vehicles, and Russia can not make any more than already planned.

Mir has several months of supplies on board in the event that the final crew's mission is extended. There has already been talk of extending the mission, and there are rumors of a new crew (EO-28) in training to replace what was to be the crew (EO-27) sometime in the second half of 1999.