ISS Fan Club

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson pledged Thursday to fast-track efforts to get congressional approval for a waiver NASA needs to get astronauts to the International Space Station after the space shuttles are retired in 2010.

"We are going to make a full, true-blue push to get (the waiver) passed," the Orlando Democrat said after emerging from a meeting with NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

NASA needs the exemption to send crews aboard the Russian Soyuz vehicle beyond 2011. Otherwise, the United States has no way of reaching the $100 billion space station until the shuttle's replacement becomes available in 2015 or later.

Griffin declined to comment on his meeting with Nelson or on his meetings with other lawmakers this week to garner support on the issue.

Nelson said he hopes the Senate will approve the waiver by unanimous consent. However, opposition by even one member would doom that effort.

http://www.space.com/news/ft-080912-senator-nasa-soyuz.html