Energiya and Roskosmos are bickering again, with the Federal Space Agency moving to fire Energiya President Nikolai Sevast’yanov (temporarily replacing him with Vice-President Aleksandr Strekalov).
- “Government wants to sack Energia space corp. head – source”, RIA Novosti, 22/6. “During his tenure, Sevastyanov has not been on good terms with the Federal Space Agency, a government regulator in the space industry. The Energia head has been repeatedly criticized primarily for his daring projects on Moon exploration, which the agency called ‘lunacy’ and looked to restrict Sevastyanov’s powers.”
- “Strekalov to become acting Energia space corp. president”, RIA Novosti, 22/6
- Roskosmos has almost achieved Sevastyanov’s resignation, NASASpaceflight.com thread. “I am very disappointed. Mr. Sevast’yanov very much loves unrealizable projects, but such people move astronautics forward.”
- “What Is Happening At The Russian Rocket Corporation”, RIA Novosti, 28/6 (also at SpaceDaily)
Energiya’s management (including Sergei Krikalyov) signed a statement in support of Mr. Sevast’yanov (currently in Russian [Gone]; no English translation yet). This seems somewhat ironic, as his election was initially opposed in 2005, and the management of then signed a statement in support of the-then President, Yurii Semyonov! (The original collective letter. [Gone]) He must have made a good impression since then. At least he had a Vision for the future. Some interviews with him are on Energiya’s Publications page.
These sort of political machinations are wasteful and are hardly likely to inspire younger people to join the Russian space program (of whom it is in desperate need of).
