From time to time, Russia actually delivers spy satellites to orbit, all of

--- begin forwarded text Delivered-To: rah@shipwright.com Delivered-To: clips@philodox.com Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 17:53:31 -0400 To: Philodox Clips List <clips@philodox.com> From: "R.A. Hettinga" <rah@shipwright.com> Subject: [Clips] Russia Left with No Satellite Surveillance Reply-To: rah@philodox.com Sender: clips-bounces@philodox.com <http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=670903> Kommersant: May 03, 2006 Russia Left with No Satellite Surveillance The RF Defense Ministry has been left with no spy satellite in orbit. The last anchor of Russia's surveillance, US-PU satellite of electronic intelligence, moved down from the orbit at night from Friday to Saturday, as the service life of that satellite, which took off from Baikonur May 2004, came to a natural end. A source with the General Naval Staff confirmed Tuesday that US-PU satellite of the Legend system of space reconnaissance and target indication won't be used up to its operating designation any longer. The source declined to comment on the further destiny of the facility, spokesmen of the Space Forces gave no comments either. US-PU has recently left the working orbit, said Fillip Clark, a British expert in the space military program of Russia. The satellite moved to the lower orbit to come down to atmosphere and burn away. US-PU was Russia's sole spy satellite in orbit and its withdrawal signals Defense Ministry of the country has not a single facility of the kind in-space. The things are no better here below. The military have just three spy satellites left in reserve, said Space Forces Deputy Commander, Lieutenant-General Oleg Gromov. To secure continuous orbit presence of strategic reconnaissance satellites, it is necessary to complete the upgrade of Cobalt-M facility this year and to launch a satellite each year. Besides, the development of new Persona satellite should gain momentum so that its test flights could start in 2007. "In the recent years, Russia has been losing its standing when it comes to maintaining a proper level of the orbit group," Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov acknowledged far back in February 2002 during his visit to Plesetsk launch site. Ivanov vowed then Moscow "will be intensifying efforts in this field" in 2003 to 2005. Still, the Space Forces haven't received more than 17 billion rubles from the budget in the past five years, while the amount to be funneled this year is estimated at 20 billion rubles. The reserve US-PU of Defense Ministry is expected to be launched from Baikonur spaceport June 22, and Don satellite of photographic reconnaissance is scheduled to take off before the end of this year. them belong to other countries though. The satellites of Great Britain, China, Iran and Israel have been launched in the recent months and the launch of Terra-SAR and SAR-Lupe satellites for Germany is being prepared now. -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah@ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' _______________________________________________ Clips mailing list Clips@philodox.com http://www.philodox.com/mailman/listinfo/clips --- end forwarded text -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah@ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'