Shuttle Space Station Trips May Be Curbed

Because of Russia’s chronic money crunch, space shuttle Discovery’s flight could end up being the only trip to the new international space station this year. Discovery was set to blast off this morning on a 10-day mission with more than 4,300 pounds of spare parts, cranes, tools, laptop computers and clothes to be used by the first permanent crew. In November, an unmanned Russian rocket is scheduled to launch the next piece of the space station, a service module. Further flights are on hold until the Russian component, already more than 1 1/2 years behind schedule, is in orbit.