News briefs: June 15-16
Posted: Mon, Jun 17, 2002, 7:27 AM ET (1127 GMT)
- Per Tegnér, director general of Swedish National Space Board, has been named as chairman of the European Space Agency Council for a two-year term effective July 1. He succeeds Alain Bensoussan, president of CNES. The ESA Council is the governing body of the space agency, composed of representatives of each member nation.
- The fate of telescope maker Celestron remains uncertain, Sky and Telescope reported. Celestron's parent company, Tasco, has announced plans to liquidate assets after defaulting on $30 million in loans. A senior management group at Celestron is negotiating to buy the firm, but those efforts have reportedly been hampered by patent infringement suits filed by rival telescope company Meade,
- A test model of the Buran space shuttle will be featured during a festival this summer in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, RIA Novosti reported this weekend. The Buran will be the centerpiece of an exhibit on Russian achievements in space exploration. The Buran had previously been in Sydney, Australia for an exhibit that eventually closed because of a lack of visitors.
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