N° 29–2000: Press Accreditation for Russian Zvezda Service Module

Zvezda (Russian for "star") is the Russian-built module that will serve as the living quarters for the first resident crew and provide control of the station until the arrival of the U.S. Destiny Laboratory next year.

For Zvezda, in the framework of an agreement with the Russian Space Agency (RKA), the European Space Agency delivers the Data Management System (DMS), the "brain" of the Russian service module. The programme covers the development of an on-board computer hardware and software system, and the associated ground systems.

Readied in October 1997, the DMS is the first delivery of ESA flight hardware within the International Space Station programme to another international Partner. The Data Management System was developed and manufactured in Europe by an industrial team lead by Daimler-Chrysler in Bremen, Germany.

Ultimately, ESA's Data Management System will not only control the service module itself, but also perform overall control, mission and failure management of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station, and will provide overall guidance and navigation functions for the entire Station.

News media wishing to cover the Zvezda launch must request press accreditation no later than 30 May 2000, as follows.

ESA member states News Media Representatives need to send a fax to :

European Space Agency:
Mr. Franco Bonacina
Ms Anne-Marie Rémondin
Media Relations
Paris, France
Tel: +33(0)1.5369.7155
Fax : +33(0)1.53.69.7690
e-mail : fbonacin@hq.esa.fr
e-mail : aremondi@hq.esa.fr

The fax must be on the organisation's letterhead with the media representative's full name, title, organisation, address, telephone and fax numbers, passport number with issuance and expiration dates, date and place of birth, citizenship and city where the visa will be issued. A media representative requiring a letter of invitation to obtain a Russian visa should fax a copy of the first page of his or her passport. A dual-entry visa is required for anyone traveling to Baikonur. The Khrunichev Space Center will provide letters of invitation for news media requiring visas.

Other items of interest are described below :

Cost: $1,000 U.S. dollars per person. The cost includes round-trip air transportation from Moscow to Baikonur and return, local transportation, and meals. Payment must be transferred no later than 30 days prior to launch to:

The Riggs National Bank
McLean Branch
6805 Old Dominion Drive
McLean, Virginia 22101
USA
Account no. 01-819-232/InfoMOST
Transit code: 05-600-00-12-60

Tour of Baikonur: Arrangements have been made for the news media to tour the Soyuz launch pad, the Service Module checkout building and the Proton integration building.

Communication Equipment: News media representatives who plan to use satellite phones or other communication equipment at the Baikonur launch site must send a fax requesting approval no later than 45 days prior to launch directly to:

Mr. Sergei Jiltsov
Head, Public Relations Department
Khrunichev Space Center
Moscow, Russia
Fax: 7 095 145 9203
Tel: 7 095 145 9802

Requests should include a description of the equipment and frequency. GSM 900 telephones are approved for use at Baikonur. Mr. Jiltsov can provide a list of companies in Moscow where the GSM 900 can be purchased or leased.

Baikonur Communication Center: Located in the Proton Conference Hall. There are telephone and fax machines available. Telephone and fax charges will be provided closer to launch.

Pre-Launch Tour of Khrunichev Space Center, Moscow, Russia: A tour of the Proton Assembly Department and the Space Station hardware will be arranged on Launch minus One Day (L-1). News media interested in participating should contact Mr. Sergei Jiltsov directly.

Journalists who had already registered last year to attend the launch following our Information Note N° 11-99 are nevertheless invited to resend us by fax on the organisation's letterhead the personal information.