MOSCOW, December 27 (AVN) - The temporary breakdown in communication with the Mir space station posed no danger for the Earth, Director-General of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency Yuri Koptev said on Wednesday.
Even the most pessimistic forecasts say Mir will not leave the orbit before March 5, 2001, Koptev told reporters. Thus, there would have been enough time to re-establish control over the station and ensure its safe sinking.
Guided flight regime was switched on Mir on Thursday, and the Russian government will sign a resolution on its sinking in the next two to three days, Koptev said. Three spacecraft will ensure its descent - a Progress cargo spaceship has already docked to the station, another one will be launched soon to orbit extra fuel, and a spacecraft manned by Gennady Padalko and Nikolai Budarin will lift off in case of necessity.
Preparations for the launches have started at the Baikonur cosmodrome, but there will be no need to launch the manned spaceship if the situation develops as planned, Koptev said.
According to him, Russia has 11 spacecraft in orbit. They accomplish various missions, including in the interests of defence. The state of the orbital group is complicated, as the number of satellites whose service life has expired is not going down, Koptev said.
At the same time, Russia has managed to renew its communication satellite group. The country has teamed up with foreign companies and launched a series of spacecraft that match the world's most advanced standards. For instance, they created a platform that enables Russia to offer services related to both satellite launches and various works in space on the global market.
In general, 2000 was among the best years for the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, Koptev said. It has launched 38 booster rockets of various classes, and is planning to launch one more on the Sea Launch programme. Baikonur remains Russia's leading spaceport, as 30 rockets lifted off from it. The year also saw a record number of Proton heavy booster launches.
The Agency expects next year to be very intensive as well, the director said. Eight to nine manned spacecraft alone are planned for launch.
Russia fully implements its obligations under the International Space Station programme and under the contract on RD-180 rocket engine supplies to the United States, Koptev stressed. The first US rocket with the Russian engine was launched successfully from Cape Cannaveral in May, he said.