[FPSPACE] MirCorp public statement

[Dwayne Allen Day]

> MirCorp is very pleased by this statement, which for the first time shows
> top level Russian government consideration of allowing Mir to remain in
> orbit for future operation by MirCorp.

To be precise, the Russians have pretty much been saying this all
along.  It is even in the Energia statements from early this month.  
Essentially what they have been saying is that they are going to de-orbit
Mir.  Absolutely.  Yep.  But if somebody comes along with some cash, they
will reconsider...  
(And note that they don't ever mention MirCorp in these comments, although
it is implied.)

Now this makes complete sense--if MirCorp was generating money for them,
then *of course* the Russians would continue to fly the station.  The
problem is that nobody in the Russian government or Energia expects
MirCorp to come up with the cash.


On a slightly different note, Mr. Jones noted that Tito has apparently
made his second payment to MirCorp and is scheduled to make another one by
December.  I wonder if this is connected to when MirCorp has promised to
pay for the Oct. 16 Progress launch? (i.e. by December 1)  
Maybe they are hoping to use Tito's money to pay their outstanding
debts.  If so, where do they get the money to pay for his Soyuz rocket?

That said, I also agree with Mr. Jones that it is possible that "paying
MirCorp" does not actually mean that they get the money, but that Tito
puts the money in escrow.  I cannot see anybody willingly handing over
millions of dollars to a corporation that looks so wobbly--Tito would want
some assurances that he will get his money back if the company goes
belly-up.



DDAY