Posted: Tue, Jun 26, 2007, 6:40 AM ET (1040 GMT)
The president of RSC Energia, one of the leading Russian space companies, was fired last week by the company's board of directors. Nikolai Sevastyanov, appointed to the post two years ago after the dismissal of Yuri Semenov, had clashed in recent months with the Russian space agency Roskosmos for advocating missions not endorsed by the government. The Russian government owns 38 percent of the company and controls a majority of the board. Sevastyanov had been in Paris last week for the Paris Air Show; he returned to Moscow earlier in the week but was not able to save his job. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Alexander Strekalov, the company's first vice president. Several candidates are being considered as a permanent replacement, including former Roskosmos head Yuri Koptev.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Itar-Tass article