Mir gets into bed with some dubious partners

Published: 5/19/1999

According to Interfax, General Vladimir Nikitsky, Deputy Director of Russia"s Energiya space corporation, said that the company hopes to sign a contract with serious investors to finance the operation of the Mir space station. General Nikitsky added that, on May 14th 1999, Energiya managers would hold talks with Western companies on the issue. He further commented that: “Various investment programs exist and there are various proposals concerning the financing of Mir, but no specific results of these talks will be known until later in the month". Unless tangible results are achieved early in June 1999, a decision will have to be made on the fate of the space station. The arrival of Mr Peter Llewellyn, owner of the Macrolife (USA) waste recycling company, has been postponed for one week. Mr Llewellyn has claimed that he is prepared to finance Mir, in exchange for flying to it in August 1999. He was expected to begin rigorous training at the Gagarin Center, outside Moscow, on May 17th 1999. Managers of the Energiya investment and industrial company, a subsidiary of the Energiya space corporation, still planned to meet with a Macrolife official in Moscow on May 14th 1999. Concise has discovered that Mr Llewellyn is on the files of the US police and the FBI as an international swindler. Mr Yury Semonov, President of Energiya Space Corporation, has, however, remained undaunted and already co-signed documents founding the new Energiya investment-industrial company with Mr Llewellyn. Mr Semenov has appointed himself as President of the new venture and Mr Llewellyn as its Vice-President. General Nikitsky contends that, even if Mr Llewellyn honours all his commitments, the $100 million credit that he has undertaken to secure, will cover only the expenses involved in sending the next crew into space. He claims that, as such, it can be only one component of financing the operation of Mir, without using Russian budgetary finances.

Article ID: 523