Is the Space Station Necessary? (NY Times)

今日のNYTの論説。

Station supporters say we would be foolish not to keep going and get at least some value from our huge investment. But spending billions more on a white elephant would be throwing good money after bad. Worse yet, focusing our prime efforts on flying the shuttles to finish the station will inevitably drain resources from NASA's other research programs and slow the planned shift to human exploration of the solar system.

ISSは "white elephant"（持て余しもの）扱いか... こうやってみんなポストISSをにらんでいくんだろうなぁ。

But nobody seems sure just what the partners really want...There are credible reports that even space authorities in some partner countries are appalled that the high cost of operating the station will eat up their own budgets, constraining other space ventures.

なんだか入院費がかさんで先の見えない爺ちゃんを病室で見守る家族のようだ。