"Clipper" Supporter Gets Clipped Himself

Blame it on "financial idealism." That's the word from the new head of RKK Energia, the Russian company that produces the bulk of spacecraft used by that country, following the ouster of the company's former chief Tuesday.

Reuters reports new company president Vitaly Lopota -- voted in by shareholders earlier in the day, to replace Nikolai Sevastianov -- immediately called for Energia to enter "emergency administration." That's a last-ditch effort to stave off possible bankruptcy.

Energia (the company's full name is Energia Rocket and Space Corporation) is the primary Russian contractor for the International Space Station, as well as a large supplier of spacecraft and rockets used by the Russian space agency, Roskosmos, and other customers.

The impact on Roskosmos remains unclear.... but it's apparent a growing rift between Sevastianov and the space agency was a motivating factor behind his ouster.

Sevastianov, who led Energia since 2005, was a strong supporter of the proposed "Clipper" multi-use space vehicle. First announced in 2004, the spacecraft was Energia's offering in a competition to replace the Soyuz space capsules used by Russian cosmonauts since the late 1960s.

Roskosmos cancelled the bidding  for a new manned spacecraft in July 2006, however. A pitch by Sevastianov in April for a new space transport system, which he said could eventually lead to industrial development on the moon, also fell on deaf ears within the agency.

Lopota -- who was nominated for the lead spot at Energia by, you guessed it, Roskosmos -- indirectly took his predecessor to task Tuesday.

"We intend to introduce emergency administration for the corporation, because the financial idealism that existed here has led not to flights to the moon, but to bankruptcy," Russia's main television channels reported Lopota saying.

State-owned television station Vesti-24 added to the clamor, stating "Sevastianov himself said the main reason for his sacking is the Clipper rocket system. He tried to be too independent from Roskosmos. The new chief promises to establish closer cooperation."

Lopota told viewers one of his priorities was "to preserve the unique professional school the corporation possesses." In comments sure to sting some at NASA, Lopota also noted Energia's importance to spaceflight today.

"Today RKK Energia is the only organization in the world which stays in orbit 24 hours a day," Lopota said. "The entire world's space exploration industry depends on it today."

FMI: www.energia.ru/english/