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'Rokot' Booster versus Environment Laws at Plesetsk

Operation of Russia's rokot space rocket complex at Plesetsk
Cosmodrome to be suspended pending compliance with environmental
protection legislation

MOSCOW IZVESTIYA 16 APR 03

[Report by Mariya Leontyeva: "Space ban suspends operation of rokot
space rocket complex"]

On 14 April, chief state inspector for environmental protection of
Arkhangelsk Oblast Anatoliy Minyayev issued instructions on
suspending the operation of the rokot space rocket complex at the
Plesetsk cosmodrome.  The reason for this was the violation of the
federal law, "on environmental protection."  Judging by the
instructions, the latest rockets are being launched from a site,
which does not have sewer or purification structures. We might add
that, several days ago (5 april), the rokot was presented to Vladimir
Putin, who visited the space troops command center, and touted as the
hope of Russian cosmonautics. 

The instruction was sent to commander of the space troops of Russia
Anatoliy Perminov, general director of the State Scientific-Research
Space Center Imeni M. V. Khrunichev Aleksandr Medvedev, and the chief
of the Plesetsk cosmodrome, Anatoliy Bashlakov.

"For about 3 years now, we have been asking that the necessary
ecological improvement of the territory be performed, since the site
used for launch of the rokot had been neglected," the Chief
Specialist of the Main Administration for Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection of The MPR [Ministry of Natural Resources]
of Russia for Arkhangelsk Oblast, Ivan Popov, explained to
Izvestiya.  "Two purification structures need to be built, and the
sewer network reconstructed.  This will require on the order of 10
million rubles (R).  The question was complicated by the fact that
the cosmodrome is a military one, while the complex itself is
commercial.  It was decided that the sum should be divided between
the Khrunichev Center and the space troops.  The question of
50-percent share participation was coordinated in Moscow, both sides
agreed, but ultimately did not allocate the money.  The violation of
ecological security entails heavy pollution of the underground water
and soil." 

The rokot complex, developed on the basis of de-commissioned RS-18
ballistic missiles and intended for launching spacecraft weighing up
to 2 tonnes, is the brainchild of the Eurockot Joint Enterprise,
founded in March of 1995 by the GKNTPS [state scientific-production
space center] Imeni M. V. Khrunichev and the German
Daimler-Benz-Aerospace (DASA) company.  The first commercial launch
of the Rokot from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome was held on 16 May 2000.
Last year, two "GRACE" scientific-research satellites were placed
into orbit with the aid of this rocket, in the interests of the joint
project of NASA (USA) and the German Space Agency DLR, As well as two
"Iridium" satellites of the Global Mobile Satellite Communications
System. The plans for this year include launches of Canadian, Czech
and Japanese scientific-research satellites.  The latter, we might
add, will mark the debut of Eurockot on the asian market.

The press secretary for the Khrunichev Center, Aleksandr Bobrenev,
reported that "the general director has adopted a decision on
emergency measures for resolving this problem."

"Specifically, a new project of purification structures is to be
coordinated with the main administration of natural resources and
environmental protection of the MPR Of Russia for Arkhangelsk Oblast
by 15 May," Bobrenev emphasized.  The plants manufacturing the
material portion have already been determined, and the necessary
financing of the work has been secured.

According to the press secretary, the center's leadership "is
convinced that the measures which have been taken will allow
continued operation of the rokot, and will ensure fulfillment of the
GKNPTS's obligations to launch contractors."

At the same time, it is the general consensus in Arkhangelsk that the
demarche by the ecologists is associated with the long-time conflict
of the regional authorities with the cosmodrome over compensation
for "space junk." Around 6,000 residents of Mezenskiy and
Leshukonskiy Rayons, on whose territory the fragments of the first
stages of the rockets fall, have appealed to Governor Anatoliy
Yefremov with a demand to protect their interests.  According to the
law, "On Environmental Protection," the polluter must provide
compensation for any inflicted loss.  Meanwhile, the Oblast
Administration cannot seem to come to agreement with the space troops
on compensatory payments.  Evidently, the regional authorities, under
pressure of public opinion, have themselves decided to "pressure" the
cosmodrome.  "It is one thing to demand money from a budget-financed
cosmodrome, and something else entirely [to demand it] from
commercial launches, which operate with millions of dollars.  They
could easily find this sum," sources in the main administration of
natural resources and environmental protection of the MPR of Russia
for Arkhangelsk Oblast emphasized, commenting on the instructions
about the Rokot.

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