NASA: Y2K threatens U.S.-Russia space project

NASA administrator Daniel Goldin told Congress today that he has some concern that Russia may suffer Year 2000 problems that would hinder joint space projects with the United States.

The United States and Russia are collaborating on an international space station that will be stocked with and controlled by information systems that could be susceptible to the Year 2000 computer problem.

Although NASA officials have little concern about hardware supplied by Russia for joint space projects, agency leaders are concerned that the Year 2000 problem in electrical power systems or telephone systems on the ground could pose a problem to Russian mission control, said Goldin, testifying today before the House Science Committee's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.