No promise of space station completion

The new head of the U.S. space agency says scientists are still working to determine the final shape of the proposed International Space Station.

Until that is completed, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told USA Today he couldn't be sure which pieces of the station might be left on the ground.

The pieces will include those already scheduled to fly on future shuttle missions, the newspaper said.

"We're trying to develop a station plan," Griffin said. "We don't have it yet."

The controversial space station, now housing one Russian and one American, has been more than 20 years in the making. The United States and 15 other nations share the $100 billion cost.

Four future shuttle flights are scheduled to carry large pieces of the space station, the report said. However, Griffin said: "What piece of hardware goes on what flight is what's up for grabs."

Copyright 2005 by United Press International