Russia Considering Three Options For Sinking Mir

SPACE TRAVEL

getting rid of the trash is never easy

Moscow (Interfax) Oct. 23, 2000
The Russian aerospace agency Rosaviakosmos has decided to present to the Russian government three basic options for sinking the Mir space station by October 24.

According to the first option, the Mir will be de-orbited with the help of a cargo ship, sources have told Interfax. This option would not cost the state anything as the Progress M-43, which is carrying fuel to the Mir, already docked with the station on October 21 and it would not be necessary to launch any more ships.

However, the probability that the Mir will hit the targeted point in the ocean in this case is only 20%, which is unsafe, the source said, citing the calculations of specialists with the Energiya rocket and space complex.

According to the second option, another cargo ship will be launched into orbit to provide the fuel that would enable the station to maneuver in case its orbit decreases too rapidly, and thereby to hit the safe zone in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean more precisely.

There is also a third option, which is considered the most preferable but which is also the most expensive, the source said. According to this scenario, a short-term expedition will be sent to the Mir early next year.

This will make it possible to avoid any emergencies that could crop up when the station's orbit lowers. This option will require 600 million rubles.

Thus, the Russian government is likely to have to choose in the next few days between three options for bringing Mir down: one of which is cheap but unsafe and the other two expensive but safe.

SPACE TRAVEL

Russia Drafts Plans To Destroy Mir

Moscow (AFP) Oct. 22, 2000
Russian experts have drafted a plan to destroy the Mir space station in February 2001 by lowering its orbit so that it largely burns up in Earth's atmosphere, a senior space official said Sunday.

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