SearchFeatures
Buy & SellLifeExtra Services |
Stay Indoors When Mir Passes Over - MinisterDate Posted: 2001-03-23   Crisis Management Minister Bunmei Ibuki asked local governments in Okinawa Prefecture to tell residents to stay indoors on the day the abandoned craft flies over. Ibuki, who is also chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, said there would be a 40 minute period of possible danger if the 15 year old space station’s engines fail to fire. The minister told government officials in charge of crisis management to be alert around the clock from Thursday to Saturday to deal with any incidents involving the craft. Uncertainty about Mir’s performance has been a recurrent theme, with 1,500 malfunctions reported during its existence. The Russians themselves are not taking any chances over the unpredictable Mir and have taken out three insurance policies worth $200 million, in case of accidents. Meanwhile a sold out jumbo jet full of passengers paying $5,600 each, will be taking off from New Zealand for a close-up view of Mir’s final flight. |
   
|
