- BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters)
- Russia moved closer to obtaining its cheapest rocket yet for commercial
satellites after successfully testing on Friday a converted nuclear missile
that was decommissioned to meet disarmament treaties.
-
- A Strela (Arrow) modification of a Soviet RS-18 Stiletto
missile roared into space from an underground silo at Russia's Baikonur
cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, said spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Igor Zatula.
-
- The Stiletto was designed to carry six individually guided
nuclear warheads, enough to destroy several Western cities, but may now
end up providing satellites for phone networks and television broadcasters
in countries it once targeted.
-
- Russia has to dismantle all its ground-based intercontinental
ballistic missiles with multiple warheads in order to meet the terms of
the 1993 START-2 strategic arms accord with the United States.
-
- It already launches Proton and Progress rockets from
Baikonur, which are both modifications of nuclear rockets, but Russia's
military has said decommissioned Stilettos may become the world's cheapest
boosters.
-
- "This is the first test launch of this missile,
also known by NATO's classification as SS-19 'Stiletto'," Zatula said.
-
- "This booster may be used to launch satellites into
space."
-
- Zatula said Strela had delivered a dummy satellite into
low orbit, 120-160 km (75-100 miles) above the Earth. He declined to give
the weight of the payload and said several more test launches were needed
before commercial use could start.
-
- Zatula said that apart from testing Strela's ability
to launch satellites, Russia's defense ministry had also successfully checked
the reliability and safety of the formidable missile, in service since
the 1970s.
-
-
- Copyright © 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited
without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable
for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance
thereon.
|
