MirCorp, established last year to fund the continuation of operations of the Russian Mir space station, says it has paid Russian company Khrunichev about $30 million to keep the orbiting base in space until the summer. The company needs to raise $40 million more from investors. Meanwhile, Russian scientists propose the use of a tethered system to maintain Mir's orbit. The 8km (5 miles)-long tether would be attached to Mir and an unmanned Soyuz craft which would undock. The electromotive force created could be used for orbital maintenance.
Source: Flight International
