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Technology Stocks : Loral Space & Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: donss who wrote (4590)	9/17/1998 10:25:00 AM
From: Jeff Vayda	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10852

All: a little piece of info on Zenit by the way of Sea Launch and Russia. Somethings I can verify. I dont know where he got that things were OK on the G* launch until 'after the strap on's separated' maybe we got some scripted video as well! and seems he has not gotten the word G* flew the coup to Soyuz. FWIW. Highlights from Meeting with Gennady P. Biryukov General Director, Design Bureau of Transport Machinery (KBTM) September 14, 1998 Moscow, Russia NMLO Attendees: Doug Englund, NASA Rep. in Russia (NRR) Kent Bress, Deputy NRR Elena Maroko, Aerospace Expert KBTM: Gennady P. Biryukov, General Director Vladislav N. Kosov, Head of Security Biryukov's comments follow: Sea Launch: ú KBTM's activities essentially same as at Baikonur, with some significant design/configuration changes. ú First tests on Sea Launch Platform are not complete, but indicate no problem with design. ú KBTM will have small team in Long Beach, also has personnel currently at sea on LP. ú Attributes DOS export-control problem to Boeing's "lack of experience." ú First launch delayed until March 1999 -- will now be a test launch vice communications satellite commercial payload ú Believes Sea Launch company should also focus on launches from Baikonur -- could raise number of launches per year from 6 or 7 to 24 or more. ú Yuzhnoe planning to increase Zenit production capacity in 2001 timeframe, with a view toward being able to support more land-based launches. Other Cooperation with Western Firms: ú KBTM has contract with Lockheed Martin on increasing launch site efficiency ú Performed analysis of Atlas facilities, recommended changes, but Lockheed made decision not to proceed with KBTM coop., citing "enough" Russian coop. on RD-180 ú KBTM has small contract for EELV. DOS is not approving additional coop., instructing Lockheed to work with US companies ú KBTM has also examined Shuttle operations, made suggestions on automatic refueling, disconnects, and possible replacement of SRM with liquid-fueled boosters ú KBTM will visit KSC at end of September Zenit Failure of 10 SEP 98: ú KBTM's expertise is ground systems, not rockets, but... ú Failure apparently happened due to control system failure ú All was normal until after strap-ons separated ú System was supposedly one-fault tolerant, but failed after one of two channels failed. Sea Launch supposedly uses different system. ú Zenit launch planned for 21 October still on schedule. ú Biryukov said Globalstar is not likely to decide to switch from Zenit to Soyuz or Proton vehicle for next launch. KBTM Structure: ú Is a "state unitary entity" on list of enterprises which will not be privatized. ú Under RSA authority. ú 700 people at main office in Moscow. ú Close to that number at Baikonur. ú Will move to incorporate Defense Ministry workers at Baikonur into KBTM, both as civilians and active duty military. ú Some will retire from military and hire on with KBTM as civilians. ú Some will elect to stay in military uniform, in which they will become actual KBTM employees (pay and administration) except they will wear uniforms. ú KBTM is a design bureau -- has well-established ties with 20-25 factories, special design bureaus, labs and institutes which perform manufacturing, assembly, etc. KBTM does program planning, signs and administers contracts with subs. It does not itself do any manufacturing. Education: ú Lost a number of young people in 1992-93. ú These started returning in 1994. ú Works with local secondary schools to teach math and physics - and draws many of its new employees from these neighborhood schools. ú Has established chairs at Moscow Aviation and Technical University, also at the Moscow Automotive Institute. Budget: ú Has received no funding from RSA in 1998. ú Arrears go back to 1996. ú Has met wages, tax payments. ú Functions on income from foreign contracts.