Russians say key space station component to launch in July

From Space Correspondent Miles O'Brien:

February 11, 2000
Web posted at: 2:05 p.m. EST (1905 GMT)

MOSCOW (CNN) -- The Russian Aeronautics and Space Agency is pledging to launch a key piece of the International Space Station in July, laying the groundwork for full-time occupation of the fledgling station in November, sources at NASA tell CNN.

The so-called "Zvezda" module is two years behind schedule. It is designed to keep the space station in orbit and provide living quarters for the early station occupants.

	MESSAGE BOARD
International Space Station

Strapped for cash, the Russians fell behind building the component and have further delayed its launch after a series of failures of the Proton rocket that will loft it into orbit.

RASA has modified the Proton to address those failures. The Russians will fly at least two improved Protons before launching the service module. A Proton rocket is scheduled to launch a commercial payload into orbit on Saturday from the Baikonaur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The Russian announcement comes after two days of intense meetings with NASA and other space station partners in Moscow.

The Russians say the launch will occur sometime between July 8th and 14th. The final date will be set once RASA determines lighting conditions in orbit are ideal for the automated docking with the space station.

NASA will press ahead with plans to fly an additional shuttle mission to the embryonic station in April. That shuttle crew will refurbish and replace some batteries, store some supplies and boost the station into a higher orbit.

Launch of the first full time occupants of the station, aboard a Soyuz rocket, will occur in November.

NASA says it will continue construction of the so-called Interim Control Module, designed as a substitute for the service module until it is launched. The ICM is still scheduled to launch on a space shuttle in December.

Russians to test inflatable descent vehicle for space
February 2, 2000
Glitch in Russia's space mirror test
February 4, 1999
Russia launches first space station segment
November 20, 1998
International Space Station on course for launch
May 12, 1998

NASA
Russian Space Agency (NASA site)
Energia Ltd.
European Space Agency
Russian Space Agency

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.