WashPost: “Space Station Mission Opposed”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Oct22.html
Despite Safety Concerns of Some Experts, NASA Decided to Send New Crew
By Eric Pianin and Kathy Sawyer, Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 23, 2003; Page A01
NASA's decision to launch a fresh two-man crew to the International
Space Station last weekend came over the strenuous objections of mid-level
scientists and physicians who warned that deteriorating medical equipment
and air and water monitoring devices aboard the orbiting laboratory posed
increasing safety risks for the crew, according to space agency documents
and interviews.
Two officials responsible for health and environmental conditions on the
space station refused to approve the launch of the new crew, instead signing
a dissent that warned about "the continued degradation" of the environmental
monitoring and health maintenance systems and exercise equipment vital to
the astronauts' well-being.