KlebanovRussia Restores Space Command Post After Fire

It will take two or three weeks to restore the Defence Ministry central space command post, devoured by yesterday's fire, says Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov. Necessary equipment is already on its way to the site in the Kaluga Region, Central Russia. Satellite control was not lost during and after the accident, stressed Mr. Klebanov. The fire "was a very unpleasant thing but in no way a tragedy," especially because the burned-out cables were quite outdated, he remarked. The fire started in the first floor of the six-story brick building, 2.20, Moscow time, and rapidly spread to the second and third floors along cable rooms and tunnels over 400 square metres. It was localised by noon, and put down by 7 pm. Commanders' offices, the central aerial network and a good deal of gadgetry survived.