DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250078
TITLE=RUSSIA/MIR (L)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE AGING
MIR SPACE STATION WILL BE ALLOWED TO DRIFT OUT OF ORBIT EARLY
NEXT YEAR. VOA'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIAN SPACE
AGENCIES WERE UNABLE TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP THE
13-YEAR-OLD SPACE STATION RUNNING.
TEXT: RUSSIAN SPACE OFFICIALS SAY MIR -- THE OLDEST SPACE
STATION EVER IN EARTH ORBIT -- WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF ORBIT BY
MARCH NEXT YEAR.
A SPACE AGENCY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE STATION WILL SLOWLY BE LOWERED
TO EARTH AS IT ORBITS UNMANNED. CONTROLLERS WILL THEN GIVE THE
COMMAND FOR MIR TO IGNITE AND BURN UP AS IT FALLS THROUGH THE
ATMOSPHERE. REMAINING PARTS OF THE 130-TON STATION ARE EXPECTED
TO DROP INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
THE THREE MAN CREW NOW ABOARD MIR WILL LEAVE THE STATION IN
AUGUST, AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED. BUT BEFORE THEY LEAVE THEY
WILL INSTALL A NEW COMPUTER TO ALLOW GROUND CONTROLLERS TO
COMMAND THE STATION WITHOUT A CREW ON BOARD.
THE MIR WAS PLAGUED BY SEVERAL ACCIDENTS IN 1997, INCLUDING A
FIRE, BUT IT HAS BEEN RUNNING SMOOTHLY SINCE THEN.
SPACE OFFICIALS HAD SAID THE RUSSIAN STATION COULD SAFELY ORBIT
FOR SEVERAL YEARS MORE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IN MOSCOW REFUSED TO
FINANCE THE MIR'S OPERATION PAST AFTER THIS AUGUST.
AN OFFICIAL FROM THE "ENERGIA" COMPANY -- WHICH OPERATES MIR --
SAID IT WOULD HAVE COST 25-MILLION DOLLARS TO KEEP THE STATION IN
ORBIT TO THE END OF THIS YEAR.
OFFICIALS WERE UNABLE TO RAISE INTERNATIONAL FUNDING TO KEEP MIR
FLYING, AND DECIDED TO DISCARD THE PROJECT ALTOGETHER. THEY SAY
THEY WILL NOW TURN THEIR ATTENTION TOWARD WHAT'S BEING CALLED THE
ALPHA INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/PCF
01-Jun-99 1:01 PM EDT (1701 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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