MM2909144898 Moscow Nezavisimaya Gazeta in Russian 29 Sep 98 p 2

[Report by Dmitriy Payson: "No Unanimity on Mir. Energiya Space Rocket Corporation Proposing To Extend Service Life of Russian Orbital Complex"]

[FBIS Translated Text] While the leaders of the International Space Station development program are holding intensive talks in Moscow regarding Russia's further involvement in the project, it is gradually becoming clear that "systemic opposition" has taken shape within the Russian space community. Last Friday [25 September] evening the Energiya Space Rocket Corporation's official position on the future of the Mir orbital complex was divulged for the first time.

From the very outset representatives of the Energiya Space Rocket Corporation -- the organization that developed and commissioned Russia's manned orbital complexes -- at various levels spoke without particular enthusiasm of the Russian Space Agency's decision to remove the station from orbit in summer 1999 six months ahead of schedule. The speech by Valeriy Ryumin, deputy general designer and leader of the Russian section of the Mir-Shuttle program, on BBC Radio in mid-August epitomized the "We Will Not Allow Mir To Be Buried!" campaign. "We have a station and the Americans do not. The Americans will be the leaders on the new International Space Station and we will be just partners. The Mir station is like a thorn in the flesh to the Americans. That is why they are so keen for us to get out of there," the man who was responsible for five years for joint work on the Mir complex (for which he was, incidentally, paid over $400 million) and who flew to the complex aboard the U.S. Shuttle this summer said.

Emotion aside, there probably are grounds for the dissatisfaction. According to cosmonauts who have flown to Mir the station is being maintained in a good state and could quite well last another 18-24 months. The 11.5 tonnes of scientific equipment on board is far superior to anything that Russia could obtain over the next few years aboard the International Space station. The fact that the Russian Government does not have the money to keep Mir in orbit is another matter and, what is more, the U.S. space agency intends to "pour" around $60 million into the Russian space rocket industry (and according to the "extended option" the entire $660 million, admittedly, over four years) as payment for two Soyuz-type rescue craft and other "goods and services" to fund our International Space Station commitments.

The leaders of the Mir rescue action chose a good time and place to begin the public campaign in defense of the unique complex. The speeches by cosmonaut-researcher Yuriy Baturin and Vladimir Nikitskiy, deputy general designer of the Energiya Space Rocket Corporation, were made at the Presidential Staff during the launch of several commercial projects under the slogan "Meeting of Millennia."

After mentioning the good working atmosphere on the orbital complex, Yuriy Baturin also cited a possible commercial project's main figures. According to the cosmonaut-researcher the initial cost of the whole complex was around $3 billion, of which around half remains today after 13 years in operation. Mir's scientific apparatus could bring a commercial return of around $200-250 million per year. It has been said that roughly the same amount is required annually to keep the station in orbit.

In response to your Nezavisimaya Gazeta correspondent's question Vladimir Nikitskiy stressed that he was speaking quite officially. And he proposed that "announcing the completion of the flight-design trials of the Mir station as an international scientific and technical experiment." Ten countries are being asked to "donate" $24 million apiece, for which the participants will receive "open access to the Mir program on a shared basis." According to Nikitskiy the Russian Government has already been sent the relevant documents.

[Description of Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta -- Daily Moscow newspaper financed by Boris Berezovskiy and often serving as his mouthpiece; it is aimed largely at an elite audience.]

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