spacetoday.net: Russian commercialization deal could be setback for Enterprise

Posted: Wed, Aug 15, 2001, 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT)
Enterprise module docked to ISS

An agreement by the Russian space agency Rosaviakosmos to commercialize the Russian segment of the International Space Station could be a setback for one joint venture planning a commercial module for the facility. The agreement, signed last week by officials of Rosaviakosmos and three Russian space companies, will allow two joint ventures between Russian and American companies developing commercial modules for the station to go forward. However, a Space News article published on SPACE.com Monday notes that agreement stipulates that Russia's resources should be pooled to support a commercial module being developed by Khrunichev and Boeing based on the spare for the Zarya module. This could be a setback for Energia and SPACEHAB, who have been working on their own commercial module, Enterprise, that would replace the Docking and Stowage Module Russia originally planned to contribute. The agreement gave no details regarding how both modules will be accommodated at the station and what the agreement will do to Energia and SPACEHAB's plans to launch Enterprise in 2003.