Posted: Fri, Aug 31, 2001, 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT)
RSC Energia, the prime contractor for the Russian segment of the International Space Station, announced this week that the company will launch a new docking compartment for the International Space Station next month. The Pirs Docking Compartment will be launched to the station as part of a modified Progress spacecraft on a Soyuz rocket on September 15, according to an Energia statement released this week. Pirs (Russian for "pier") will provide a new docking port for Soyuz spacecraft and also an airlock for spacewalks from the Russian segment of the station. Energia also announced that the next Soyuz taxi mission to the station, TM-33, is scheduled for launch on October 21. Energia officials also reported at the General Designer's Review Board meeting that Enterprise, a commercial module being jointly developed by Energia and SPACEHAB, will be combined with a "simplified" science power platform to replace the full science power platform originally designed to provide electrical power to Russian elements of the station.

Related Links:

•  Energia press release