spacetoday.net: Russia considering replacing Energia head

Posted: Sat, May 14, 2005, 9:13 AM ET (1313 GMT)
The Russian government is considering a proposal to replace the president of RSC Energia, one of the country's largest aerospace companies and a major player in the operation of the International Space Station. According to Russian reports published Wednesday Roskosmos, the Russian space agency, said it supported the proposal to name Nikolai Sevastyanov, head of Russian satellite communications company Gaskom, as the new president of Energia, replacing Yuri Semonov. Roskosmos officials cited continuing losses at Energia as the reason for bringing in new leadership. A vote on the proposal would come at the Energia shareholders' meeting on May 28; the Russian government owns 38 percent of the company, leading most to conclude that the proposal will pass. Energia's current leadership is fighting the move to replace Semonov, issuing appeals to stockholders asking them to back Semonov in the upcoming meeting. Energia manufactures the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft used to service the International Space Station, as well as the Block-D upper stage and other spacecraft.