Part Twelve: Orbital Billboards or how the U.S.S. space Program thrives
A new era: Orthodox priest blessing the Zenit and Energia launch pad in 1992
The Collapse of USSR and Birth of Union of Sovereign States, it left the Soviet Space program shatter.
Next to Energia Modular rocket family, was a almost complete MIR space station in Orbit.
Soyuz capsule and Proton rocket production were stopped even for USSR collapse, so the Buran shuttle had to fly to MIR.
only positive site to that was that at last, they got a U.S.S. Space Agency. Lead by Boris Ivanovich Gubanov,
but most of U.S.S member show no interest in Space flight, except Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
Main Goal of U.S.S. Space agency was to keep MIR and Energia/Buran program alive.
Second goal was Commercial space launch for Zenit 2 and Energia-M and Buran.
In 1992 They look for partners, first in USA but that ended in a failure, because Lobbyist from Martin Marietta, General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas,
Defended there position in new US launch Market for the new ALS and persuaded the US House of representatives, not to give permission to launch US satellites on U.S.S rockets.
With the Europe Influence treaty, the U.S.S. had access to European market so they ask them.
France new government under President Jacques Chirac, who ask a "little contribution in form of money" for use of Guiana Space Centre and replace the Ariane 4 with Zenit.
ESA had also a word to say on that agreement "NO WAY !", so the USS-France Zenit Deal ended in Diplomatic quarrel.
Alternative U.S.S. Space Agency study the use of a sea platform to launch Zenit, but calculation show the R&D cost of over billion rubles, too much under current budget.
Lucky the U.S.S. Space agency found there partners in French CNES, India and China. Who look on Join-Venture in Space Program.
The French space agency CNES was always arbitrary and had good connection with USSR during Cold War and later with U.S.S.
despite the the U.S.S -France Zenit Deal, CNES renewed there collaboration with U.S.S. Space agency, special for Join-venture on Mars/Venus Probes and mission to MIR
The Station was mostly visit by French CNES astronauts, while ESA astronauts use FREEDOM.
on Space probe CNES contribute a Ballon-probe for the Mars 16 and the Vesta fly by probe carry by Mars 17 in 1994.
Vesta visit asteroids 2335 James, then again Mars, 109 Felicitas, 735 Mandeville and finally 4 Vesta.
Mars 16 landed the first Mars rover and released first ballon probe, while Mars 17 is a Orbiter equipped with Sensors from ESA, USS, India.
India had very close relationship with USSR under the Indo-Soviet Peace and Friendship Treaty and had substantial trade between the two nation.
in January 1993 U.S.S. Chairmen Grigory Romanov visit India and consolidate a new strategic partnership.
So India and U.S.S got in 1993 a agreement on join-venture of Energia-M, Zenit and india cosmonaut mission to MIR
on 1994 the construction of "Zenit launch pad Complex" on south part of Satish Dhawan Space Centre began.
Finish were works and launch inauguration of the Pad were in 1998. the India Zenit became, a nightmare for Arianespace and US launchers.
so good that India gave up there rocket program, special after failure of there GSLV program and the deathly explosion of a solid booster in 2004.
now the money spend on india Manned spacecraft for Zenit.
China was willing to give major part on money, but they wanted also Rocket Technology, special the Energia and Buran Hardware.
The Chinese had study, copy and improve the U.S.S Hardware and start to build they own version of Energia modular launcher family and Buran Shuttle.
and quit the Join-venture with the others after 10 years of commitment.
MIR-2 station plans were postponed, until MIR had reach it maximum Lifetime around the year 2000 or 2005.
Thanks to NASA canceling all Spacelab mission, opened U.S.S. Space agency new ways for the Buran shuttles, they offer University and Commercial companies worldwide,
Lab space in cargo bay module, during Resupply mission to MIR. how fly two per year, later four times a years.
For Safety of Mir crew the U.S.S. Space agency used modified Soyuz spacecraft strip of Orbital module and modified docking system on return module
The rescue craft is brought by Shuttle to MIR and return for overhaul on next visit, later this is replace by the India manned spacecraft
Also they used the Hull of Energia/Zenit rockets for advertising space. was at first hilarious view, but became a normal business in commercial launch market,
until U.S.S. Space agency launch the first orbital Billboard! a unfolding 4 square km size sail in 200 km high orbit at 52°, based on abandon USSR Space mirror project.
First client was US cigarette firm Philip Morris & Co and there iconic smoking Cowboy, it was small in size of the Full moon, but that enough to recognize it, after three months the sail reentry in earth atmosphere.
The orbital Billboard were heavy criticized by Astronomers, environmentalist and ufologist for "optical pollution". but there Impact on advertising was enormous, Philip Morris & Co sale skyrocket.
and Pizza Hut was ordering a complete series of orbital Billboards. the begin of "Fast Food Wars"
the U.S.S. Space agency had found a rich money source, much to horror of scientific community.
In USA the Space Marketing Inc. had already proposed orbital Billboard in 1993, but the US House of representatives banned all U.S. advertising in Space. But the USS is outside US Jurisdiction.
So Astronomers had to check the Orbits of orbital Billboards or deviate to Orbital telescopes like Hubble, who fly in higher orbit as the orbital Billboards.
Next for financial benefit was interesting side effect found by NORAD: they sweep the low orbit free of small space Junk, caught by Sail and it's frame.
