Tim Furniss/LONDON
The MirCorp organisation, which is supporting the continuation of operations aboard the Russian Mir space station, aims to send a new crew to the space base in September, possibly including an Italian, Carlo Vibert.
The commercial mission would be supported by the Itali-Mir organisation, comprising a wide range of national sponsors, including Italian industry, banks, the media and consumer companies. Vibert has worked for the European Space Agency and is familiar with Mir training.
MirCorp, 60% owned by the Russian Energia space company and 40% owned by MirCorp investors, believes the Itali-Mir mission could be a "commercial model" for future flights to extend the operation of the station. Mir was retired last August, but was reboarded by the first MirCorp-supported crew, Soyuz TM30 cosmonauts Sergei Zaletin and Alexander Kaleri, in February.
The TM30 crew will return to Earth in mid-June, says MirCorp, after renovating Mir, repairing systems, replacing batteries and locating a small leak. The TM 30 crew was the first to be sent into space without government funding.
A third commercial manned mission is planned for next year, says MirCorp. Continued operation of the Mir has caused friction with International Space Station partner NASA, which argues that Mir is a distraction.
Source: Flight International
