Published: 8/21/1998

The Sea Launch international project will not be abandoned, although the first launch from the floating cosmodrome scheduled for October will probably be postponed, Valery Aliyev, deputy general designer of Energia space-rocket corporation, has said, because of the suspension of a large part of work following a US State Department decision. This decision was prompted by an alledged unsanctioned transfer of important technical information to Russian and Ukrainian experts by the US Boeing corporation. This statement covers up a bureaucratic formality, Aliyev believes. Boeing is said to have delayed getting authorisation papers from various export and licencing control, tax and customs offices. Aliyev noted Boeing is now dealing with these matters and upon receiving authority will resume operations by 20-25 August 20. When the work on the Sea Launch project was in progress in Russia, Energia was responsible for obtaining such documents, and everything was done according to the rules. Now that the project is being implemented in the US, Boeing is responsible for obtaining the documents, Aliyev said. Aliyev rejected suggestions that Boeing may have shared certain "secrets" with Russia and Ukraine. He said there is nothing secret about the project. It does not involve transfer of technologies or reconstruction of any production processes. Each participant in the project does part of the work and what has resulted is then combined. The most important part, the planning of the project, which required authorisation, has been completed, and routine testing began, Aliyev said. He said work is four weeks behind the schedule, which may lead to the postponement of the launching. But if everything is smoothed out and work is speedd up, the launching could be on schedule. The Sea Launch joint venture was formed in 1995 by the Russian Energia, the Ukrainian amalgamation Yuzhmash, Boeing and the Norwegian Kvaerner shipbuilding company. Energia, Yuzhmash and Kvaerner undertake all technical matters, while Boeing is responsible for financing and general project management. The project is valued at about US$2bn. The command ship from which the launching is to be guided was equipped in Russia and arrived at its base in the United States in mid-July. At the time of writing, the sea platform from which rockets will be launched is now on its way, passing through the Indian Ocean.(SP898.7) (VZ)  

Article ID: 270