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ZL2TZE > MIRFAN 21.01.00 14:20l 34 Lines 1526 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: [sarex] Reuter's version of MIR story
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From: ZL2TZE@ZL2TZE.#73.MLB.NZL.OC
To : MIRFAN@WW
MOSCOW, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Russia's Mir space station, which has been
orbiting the earth empty for nearly half a year, is to continue operating
through August with several flights planned, the head of Russia's space
agency said on Thursday.
Yuri Koptev told a news conference after a cabinet meeting that more
non-government financing had been found to keep the station operating.
``A cargo flight will take place on February 1 and a crew will follow in
April, with a further cargo ship to go up a month later,'' Koptev said.
He said the government had already allocated the equivalent of $120 million
to the space programme in general but an additional $28 million was required
to keep the station flying until August. That could come from the private
sector.
``Talks are going on with a company on investment,'' said Yuri Semyonov, head
of the Energiya Rocket Company, Mir's builders. ``The first funds have
already been received and more financing will be forthcoming if certain
conditions are met. The money is there, but it has to be released.''
Energiya said this month that a U.S. firm, Golden Apple, had promised to send
$20 million by March to continue the programme, started in 1986. Mir has been
empty and partly shut down since August and is to be crashed into the Pacific
Ocean unless funds are found.
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