DATE=1/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244540
TITLE=NASA / MIR REACT (S)
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S SPACE AGENCY, NASA, SAYS RUSSIA'S DECISION TO
KEEP THE MIR SPACE STATION IN ORBIT THREE MORE YEARS MUST NOT
COME AT THE EXPENSE OF MOSCOW'S COMMITMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION. V-O-A SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY
REPORTS.
TEXT: NASA SAYS RUSSIA HAS PROMISED THE UNITED STATES THAT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION REMAINS A PRIORITY, EVEN THOUGH PRIME
MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV HAS SIGNED A DECREE TO KEEP THE AGING
MIR ALOFT.
NASA SPOKESMAN DWAYNE BROWN SAYS MOSCOW HAS NOTIFIED IT THAT
MIR'S SUPPORT WOULD COME FROM A PRIVATE SOURCE -- NOT FROM
SCARCE GOVERNMENT FUNDS.
NASA HAD HOPED THE RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY WOULD REMOVE THE OUTPOST
FROM ORBIT LATER THIS YEAR SO IT COULD FOCUS ON ITS REPLACEMENT.
BUT IN RECENT MONTHS, MOSCOW HAS SIGNALED ITS DESIRE TO EXTEND
THE 13-YEAR-LONG MISSION.
MR. BROWN SAYS NO MATTER WHAT RUSSIA DOES, IT MUST NOT TURN
ITS BACK ON ITS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES.
// BROWN ACT //
WE STAND VERY FIRM IN RELAYING TO THE RUSSIANS THAT
THEY MUST -- I REPEAT, THEY MUST -- MEET THEIR
COMMITMENTS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
// END ACT //
RUSSIA HAS NOT REVEALED WHAT PRIVATE ENTITY WILL FUND THE MIR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/RRM
22-Jan-99 5:07 PM EST (2207 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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