posted 10-23-2003 05:44 PM               

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station says he is not worried that some medical and monitoring equipment there is not working properly.

Speaking from the Space Station, Michael Foale said Thursday he and his crewmate, cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri were told of the problems before they blasted off earlier this week. The deteriorating equipment includes air and water monitors and medical supplies.

The Washington Post Thursday reports that while NASA decided conditions were safe enough for the two men to begin a six-month stay, dissenters within the space agency argued the degraded equipment posed increasing safety risks to the crew.

NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe is quoted as saying he understood there was no immediate hazard to the crew, but that conditions could get worse in the next six months, forcing the men to abandon ship.

Mr. Foale and Mr. Kareli arrived at the station Monday aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. NASA has relied on Russian craft to get to and from the station since the U.S. shuttle fleet was grounded earlier this year after the explosion of the Columbia. The Washington Post reports that the grounding of the fleet has hampered regular maintenance and repair efforts, leading to the current concerns.

Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque accompanied the men, and will return to earth with the current crew, American Ed Lu and Russian Yuri Malenchenko, next week.