Concerned about possible damage to the environment caused by Europe's new Ariane-5 launcher, environmental groups in French Guiana used the occasion of the Ariane-5 first -- unsuccessful -- launch to call for an internal inquiry into the environmental effects of the booster.
Environmental groups claimed that a cloud of toxic hydrochloric acid formed after the explosion and drifted over populated areas. Residents as far as 24 km (15 mi.) away from the launch site complained of stinging eyes and breathing problems several days after the explosion.
French officials issued conflicting statements on the existence of such a cloud. French administrator Pierre Dartout reported that instruments at the launch site detected no traces of hydrochloric acid after the explosion. Meanwhile, French environmental minister Corrine Lepage reported that a hydrochloric acid levels of 5 parts per million were detected. The safe limit for hydrochloric acid in the atmosphere is 80 ppm.
A number of environmental groups based in French Guiana are seeking a moratorium on future Ariane-5 launches until the environmental effects of an Ariane-5 launch can be determined. Environmental groups are requesting an international panel that they believe would be more impartial than a French-run group.
"The economic and financial interested of Ariane are so important that the authorities are spreading disinformation," one activist claimed.
NASA officials are standing by to see who wins the upcoming Russian presidential election before considering the effects the new president will have on the International Space Station.
Officially, NASA officials are optimistic that the program will remain on track whether Boris Yeltsin is reelected or Communist Party candidate Gennady Zyuganov wins the office.
"Even if there is a policy shift, we're still going to have operational things going on that will have to continue, "John Schumacher, NASA's associate administrator for external affairs, said.
However, observers note that Zyuganov has given only lukewarm support to the space station in public statements. Implying that the current agreement favors NASA too strongly, Zyuganov said, "In the future, any international contract must be signed only if it strengthens the independence of Russian cosmonautics and consolidates its standing as the premier space nation today."
Should Russia drop out of the space station project after the election, NASA has devised a backup plan to build the key core modules Russia is providing for the station. Such a plan would cost an additional $2 billion and take 18 months.
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