WASHINGTON -- MirCorp, aninternational company that has been devoted to keeping the Mir spacestation open forcommercial business is now turning its attention to the International Space Station (ISS) to help foster public spacetravel.

MirCorp is a joint venturebetween the Gold & Appel Transfer S.A. holding company and RKK Energia Russia's largest space systems manufacturer. The company, which is also backedby wealthy entrepreneurs Chirinjeev Kathuria and Walt Anderson, is expected toannounce a new strategy for the firm given the likely deorbiting of Russia's Mir station early nextyear.

Rumors are circulating thatMirCorp has worked a deal between Russia's Energia and Spacehab [SPAB], a U.S. firm, to fund and utilizethe yet-to-be-built and launched Enterprise module -- which Spacehab and theRussian company RKK Energia first announced plans to build in December 1999.

Other sources contend thatthe company may build and fly a separate module near the ISS.

MirCorp's Jeffrey Manber inthe hot seat to set a new company agenda.

Let's make a deal?

But Shelly Harrison, Spacehab'schairman and chief executive officer, told SPACE.com that any agreementregarding use by MirCorp of the Enterprise module is news to him.

As for MirCorp wanting tofund the Enterprise module, no such deal has been struck.

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"If they have thatinterest, they haven't yet clearly voiced it to me," Harrison said."If they want to be a customer, or have some closer involvement, we arewilling to have that discussion, but we would appreciate that they do it not inthe press, but do it as business to business."

Harrison said thatMirCorp's business prospects on Mir "are terminal."

"They are finallyreconciled to the fact that Mir is coming down and that's it for theiraspirations to run things on Mir," he said.

An enterprising idea

In 2003, Spacehab andEnergia are slated to make available the first commercially developed andoperated module to the ISS.

Attached to Russia's sideof the ISS, the Enterprise module will be 27 feet (8.2 meters) long and 9.5feet (2.9 meters) in diameter and provide over 1,800 cubic feet (51 cubicmeters) of working volume on board the ISS.

The interior of thecommercial module will be partitioned into three segments: one outfitted tohost a variety of microgravity research facilities; an area for stowage and/orcrew support and a large volume that will serve as the multimedia centerhousing the first media studio in orbit.

It is from this module thatSpacehab will conduct business-to-business transactions. Accommodations willalso be available on the module's outside surface for un-pressurized stowageand research.
 

Dennis Tito, space traveler inwaiting. Headed for the ISS?

In a press statement issuedDecember 12, MirCorp confirmed that, due to the demise of the Mir station, thecompany will "cease the marketing" of the Russian complex.

MirCorp's board ofdirectors touted its own success in "attracting major customers in tourismand in the media," and reaffirmed its intention to continue MirCorpoperations.

Among a roster of newobjectives noted in the statement, MirCorp is to pursue the development and useof a human-tended module capable of docking with the ISS. Also, the group plansto create a commercial infrastructure that supports the ISS, such as use ofcommunication satellites and a space tether.

The MirCorp board statedthat where possible, all existing customers will have their programs fullyimplemented.

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Bags packed, Mr. Tito?

Spacehab's Harrison saidthat MirCorp could work through Enermedia, a joint venture between Energia andSpacehab's Space Media, Inc.

Space Media has beenestablished to create proprietary content from and about space for televisionbroadcast and Internet distribution via the Enterprise module. Target audiencesrange from students and space enthusiasts to major corporations.

Enermedia has been formedto bridge the period between now and when the Enterprise module is linked tothe ISS, Harrison said. By working through Enermedia, he said, Spacehab mightexplore ways to help MirCorp fulfill its interest in flyingDennis Tito as a paying customer.

However, Peggy Wilhide,NASA's associate administrator in the Office of Public Affairs, told SPACE.comthat MirCorp had not approached the space agency about flying people to theISS.

Wilhide said that there areboth bilateral and multilateral organizations that must okay individualsdestined to board the ISS.

"These groups mustapprove all individuals traveling to the ISS whether or not they are expeditioncrews or visiting crews," Wilhide said.

Non-interference basis

Spacehab's Harrison saidthe Enterprise module will be open for business as a commercial spot attachedto the Russian side of the ISS.

To avoid any obstructionsto ISS activities, there will be coordination between Spacehab, NASA and theother member states.

The Enterprise module willactually add value to NASA and its partners, Harrison said.

"We're more the steadyplayer and have learned to do things on-shuttle, and we're now doing things onthe station. We're moving along and building a venue and a capability up there.We're open to customers coming to us," Harrison said.

"What MirCorp isdoing, I don't know. If they are a good customer and they play by the rules, wewelcome them to come in and talk to us,. If they want to be a customer aboardEnterprise -- and that makes sense -- then fine."