The old cliche about eating one out of house and home applies even in outer space. NASA is drawing up possible emergency plans to evacuate the International Space Station because the two-man crews are eating more than predicted, potentially causing a critical food shortage weeks earlier than expected.
The crunch date is Dec. 23, when a Russian automated space freighter containing seven extra food containers is due to be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, reaching the station two days later. Assuming the launch goes as planned, NASA officials say they do not expect to order the crew to return to Earth early.
If the craft is destroyed or delayed however, temporary evacuation is likely. Cmdr. Leroy Chiao and Russian flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov will then have to consume less. The astronauts are now eating about 25 percent more food than expected. NASA engineers console themselves with the thought that the Progress cargo ships have a solid record.
Supplies are tight aboard the space station because NASA's shuttles remain grounded after the Columbia disaster exploded on Feb. 1, 2003, forcing NASA to rely on the smaller Progress modules.
The internal NASA reports call the shortage critical due to higher consumption than planned.
