DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251811
TITLE=RUSSIA SPACE (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A RUSSIAN ROCKET IS SET TO BLAST OFF FROM KAZAKHSTAN
CARRYING VITAL SUPPLIES TO THE CREW OF THE MIR SPACE STATION.
V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THAT THE GO AHEAD FOR
THE MISSION CAME AFTER SETTLEMENT OF A BITTER DISPUTE OVER USE OF
THE LAUNCH FACILITY.
TEXT: RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY OFFICIALS SAY A PROGRESS CARGO SHIP
IS SCHEDULED TO LIFT OFF FROM THE BAIKONUR COSMODROME SHORTLY
AFTER 16 HOURS 30 UNIVERSAL TIME FRIDAY. THE SHIP IS PACKED WITH
FOOD, FUEL AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE TWO RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS AND ONE
FRENCH ASTRONAUT ORBITING EARTH ON THE MIR SPACE STATION.
THE EQUIPMENT INCLUDES A NAVIGATION SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PREVENT
THE ORBITER FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AFTER THE CURRENT CREW
DEPARTS FOR EARTH NEXT MONTH, LEAVING THE SPACE STATION VACANT.
RUSSIA HOPES TO RE-OCCUPY THE CRAFT AT A LATER DATE, WHEN
SUFFICIENT FUNDS CAN BE FOUND.
THE TAKE-OFF OF THE CARGO SHIP HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR EARLIER IN
THE WEEK, BUT WAS POSTPONED AFTER KAZAKHSTAN IMPOSED A BAN ON
LAUNCHES FROM BAIKONUR.
THE COSMODROME WAS EFFECTIVELY SHUT DOWN AFTER A RUSSIAN PROTON
BOOSTER ROCKET BLEW UP SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF JULY FIFTH. THE
EXPLOSION SCATTERED DEBRIS ACROSS THE KAZAKH DESERT AND TOUCHED
OFF A FIRE THAT BURNED MORE THAN 500 HECTARES OF PASTURE LAND.
THE BLAZE ALSO SPARKED FEARS THAT TRACES OF TOXIC FUEL HAD
ENTERED THE REGION'S WATER SUPPLY.
KAZAKH OFFICIALS LIFTED THE LAUNCH BAN ON ALL BUT PROTON ROCKETS
AFTER RUSSIA COMPLAINED THAT DELAYING THE SUPPLY SHIP MIGHT
ENDANGER THE MIR CREW. BUT AN AGREEMENT REACHED WEDNESDAY COMMITS
RUSSIA TO PAY FOR CLEANUP OF THE PROTON WRECKAGE AND START
SETTLING 300-MILLION DOLLARS IN BACK RENT FOR USE OF THE
COSMODROME.
///REST OPT///
THURSDAY, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN CHASTISED HIS
GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO LIVE UP TO THE RENTAL AGREEMENT, AS
WELL AS OTHER SUCH COMMITMENTS WITH FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS THAT
ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES.
///STEPASHIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
HE SAYS, "ENOUGH OF THE GAMES. PERHAPS WE WILL SNEAK BY, MAYBE WE
CAN CHEAT. BUT NO COMMONWEALTH WILL WORK THIS WAY, WE WILL GET NO
RESPECT FROM OTHER STATES IF WE ALWAYS USE DECEPTION."
MR. STEPASHIN'S COMMENT APPEARED TO BE AN EFFORT TO MAKE UP FOR
EARLIER REMARKS WHICH ANGERED KAZAKH OFFICIALS. LAST WEEK, HE
TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS WORRIED MORE ABOUT AN INVASION OF LOCUSTS
INTO SIBERIA THAN ABOUT EFFECTS OF THE ROCKET CRASH. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/GE/KL
15-Jul-99 12:59 PM EDT (1659 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
