From Space.com regarding the cost of Russian's (specificaly RSA) messing with us:
http://www.space.com/news/spacestation/iss_forum_001204.html Sensenbrenner took exception with the ISS program being dependent upon Russian hardware.
"Delay and failure by the Russian government to provide critical hardware pieces on time have cost the American taxpayer $5 billion and delayed completion of the station by more than four years," Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) said.
And regrading modifications for higher inclination orbit (I have to guess it exceeds $1 Billion)
From:
http://www.nap.edu/html/upgrading/ch1.htm ...Three events in 1993 resulted in additional upgrades to the space shuttle system. A new program in which the shuttle would rendezvous and dock with the Mir space station required several modifications to the orbiter, including the development of a new payload bay airlock/docking system. The ASRM program was canceled, depriving the shuttle of approximately 5,000 kg of additional payload capacity. Finally, the planned orbit for the newly restructured International Space Station (ISS) was moved to a 51.6 degree inclination. The new orbit was compatible with Russian launch facilities but reduced the amount of payload the shuttle could deliver to the ISS by more than 5,000 kg.
In order to address these decrements, the shuttle program embarked on a campaign to improve the shuttle's payload capability significantly so that it could meet the ISS program requirements. The largest upgrade was a super lightweight tank, a $200 million program that increased the payload the shuttle could deliver to the ISS by 3,500 kg. Additional upgrades, including lightweight crew seats, adjustments to trajectory and propellant reserves, and many minor weight reductions throughout the orbiter, increased payload capacity by approximately another 4,000 kg.
Regarding the Cost of using the Metric System (I can't open PDFs on this PC).
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/inspections/g-00-021.pdf
btw, The Shuttle costs about $10K per pound put into orbit. The reduction of roughly 10K lbs in payload losely translates into a cost of $100 Million worth of payload per launch.
Thanks for your links. But I´ve found nothing regarding the ISS. I see your point regarding the Ruskies. They´ve announced earlier today that they could send a man to Mars within 10 years... I´m curious wether they can feed all their citizens within that period of time, too.