[FPSPACE] ISS Progress delayed, Mir deorbit funds allocated?

[Dwayne Allen Day]

On Tue, 7 Nov 2000, Chris Jones wrote:

> NASAWatch.com is reporting that the next ISS Progress launch, already delayed
> until December, is being further delayed until next February.  This latest
> delay will require the Shuttle to take on some ISS reboost responsibilities,
> cutting the science payload it can carry to the station.

NASA has also told the Naval Research Lab to stop work on the ICM.  This
in effect cancels the program.


> Space.com is reporting that Russian space agency head Yuri Koptev has said 
> that Russia has set aside (or has decided to set aside -- it's
> unclear) the funds ($25 million) to deorbit Mir.  The final (is that
> final final?) decision on the plan will come early next year.
> 
> MirCorp's Jeffrey Manber calls this a non-story, and says they will be
> launching Tito to Mir in January.

I too think that this is a non-story.  It is not clear if any money has
changed hands.  Until Energia says that they have been paid for a deorbit
mission, I won't believe it.

It is interesting that Koptev's remarks that Mir is "dangerous" got little
attention.  MirCorp chose to ignore them (wisely), but this will certainly
come up again.  That was a real setback, because Mir seemed to have gotten
past its reputation as a disaster-in-waiting.

How do you convince people to invest in your company when the head of the
Russian space agency says that your product is "dangerous"?

As for Tito?  He may yet fly.  But I doubt that Energia will let him fly
until they get paid for the October Progress mission.  So MirCorp has to
come up with cash for both missions by January.

The fat lady is standing in the wings, but has not taken the stage.



DDAY