Computer Problems Doom the Space Station?

Update and Bump:

Multiple news sources are reporting that the ISS's computers are back up and have passed all their operational tests. Damned the bad luck!

Original Post:

All over the news this morning was the saga of the ongoing computer failure at the International Space Station (ISS). As best I can understand the (very) non-technical stories, the German-built (under Russian contract) computer system that controls the life support system, the environmental systems, and the spacecraft's attitude (direction) failed a few days ago. All attempts to resuscitate it have been unsuccessful, but these attempts are ongoing. Right now the only reason the astronauts can stay there is because the space shuttle is docked with the ISS and is providing attitude control.

But here's the real kicker: if the stories are correct, there's a looming deadline -- the limit of the space shuttle's stay. If the problem cannot be fixed by then, the ISS will have to be abandoned -- left drifting aimlessly in space. After some time, it will be slowed down by friction with the upper Earth's atmosphere, and will fall out of orbit in a hail of flaming wreckage.

I can hardly wait! That useless, purposeless hunk of junk called the ISS has been sucking the money from all the good programs at NASA for a long time now. I can't think of a better end than this, with no deaths or injuries to the astronauts, and a flaming decent into hell for the ISS. Hooray! Now I just hope I'm not being set up for a major disappointment, like an emergency shuttle repair mission that cancels yet another real science program...