Boost For Russia`s Space Programme
Russian rocket engineers said on Tuesday they were confident the mysterious fuel pressure loss during last week’s test launch of a Proton rocket was a one-off event and were confident that there was nothing to worry about prior to the crucial launch of the ISS’ cornerstone – Zvezda Module.
The only thing the Russian space engineers were worried about before the launch was Wednesday morning’s weather forecast. “It was not really good, there is a chance of thunderstorms,” they told reporters. However, the sun was shining and the sky was clear blue when the Proton rocket carrying the Zvesda ISS module bound for the International space station was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Chief of the U.S. space agency NASA Dan Goldin attended the launch together with Yury Koptev of Russia's Space Agency. Later Goldin said the event was a triumph of Russia's will and commitment to ISS project.
“The Russians have gone through all sorts of difficulty with their economy, political changes and many other problems and they came through and did what they said they were going to do,” said Goldin and added: “Of course there will be more problems. It is not Disneyland we are going to, it is space.”
This is 10 years work and the success of this launch will determine to a large extent whether the Russian space programme continues or not, said Yuri Koptev.
The first scheduled manned flight to Zvezda has been preliminarily set for October this year, although a U.S. crew did visit the ISS in May to boost its flag…
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