Space Station to Cost $94 Billion, GAO Says

WASHINGTON â€”  A report from Congress’s nonpartisan General Accounting Office released Tuesday projects that the nation’s space station program will cost $93.9 billion over 17 years, a figure that backers disputed, fearing it could cripple bipartisan support for the endeavor.

The number was immediately discounted by backers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration project, which supports about 1,000 jobs in Orange County.

But Rep. Richard Zimmer (R-N.J.), a leading critic of the orbiting laboratory, said he would showcase the GAO figures in an effort to persuade the 72 House Republican freshmen, who were elected on a pledge to cut government spending, to vote against the costly project.

“The freshmen have shown their willingness to be independent and willing to tackle the sacred cows,� Zimmer said. “‘This is a new issue to them, and when they are faced with the reality of balancing the budget, I think they’ll be willing to scrutinize any big-ticket item.�

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) said the GAO’s projected cost was misleading, adding that the figure poses a danger to attempts to win congressional approval of funding this year.

“I think there’s a real reason to worry that people will take this figure seriously, when in fact it should be discarded,� said Rohrabacher, a supporter of the station.

Originally proposed a decade ago as an $8-billion initiative, the proposed orbiting space laboratory has survived several attempts to kill it.

After opponents came within one vote of withdrawing its funding two years ago, NASA retooled the project last year to reduce costs and bring in international support.

Supporters, quoting a $30-billion to $40-billion cost provided by NASA, say the program promises advancement in space research.

The GAO figure was significantly higher than earlier estimates, NASA officials said, because it included the $50.5 billion in costs to launch, maintain and operate the space shuttle, which will be used in building the orbiting space station and making periodic deliveries to it.

Regardless of whether the station exists, NASA would continue the shuttle missions, spokesman Ray Castillo said.

Rohrabacher added that GAO auditors failed to account for reforms in the space station program that Republicans plan to implement, including incorporating cheaper, emerging technologies and inviting private sector involvement.