[FPSPACE] Russian gov't authorizes funds for Mir

[JamesOberg@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/26/00 11:14:03 AM Central Daylight Time, davida@cwo.com 
writes: << Also in the same article, a MirCorp spokesman discusses a possible 
new core  module for the Mir station. >>

The idea that a new Mir-2 module could be docked to the existing Mir seems to 
me to be consistent with DDAY's cynical assessment about Mircorp's techical 
and space operations judgment, and I'm sorry to have to say that but reality 
must take precedence over wishing them well, which I do. Perhaps a Space 
Shuttle mission could bring a new core module up there and dock it, but I 
don't know of any other off-the-shelf capability that would allow the 
Russians to perform this replacement operation. Mir -- old or new -- does not 
have its own autonomous rendezvous/docking capability, neither in guidance 
nor in thruster arrangement.