Cosmonaut Crisis Exaggerated Autonomy on Trial

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~7~~------NEVVS------~N~ATU~R~E~V~0~1~--~~s~n~<~~~O~B~ER~I~~3 Salyut-7 Spanish universities Cosmonaut crisis exaggerated Autonomy on REPORTS in the US journal Aviation crew of three only narrowly escaping with Week that the Soviet orbital spacecraft their lives). Since Soyuz-T-9, which carried trial Salyut-7 suffered a rupture in a main ox Lyakhov and Aleksandrov up to Salyut-7, is Barcelona idizer line at the beginning of September now almost four months old, they will need AfTER a marathon two-day debate, the have triggered speculation that this could a new craft in which to return. Law for University Reform was approved put at risk the lives of cosmonauts Vladimir This should, in itself, pose no dif by the Spanish Senate before the summer Lyakhov and Aleksandr Aleksandrov. ficulties. Following other problems in the recess and is now taking effect. The These suggestions (which did not have the past, notably the docking failures of Socialist majority in both houses wanted backing of the Aviation Week "analysts") Soyuz-25 and 33, the Soviet manned pro quick approval and the bill passed through have been formally denied by Soviet space gramme has previously been temporarily Parliament without any major change; the planners. The launch last week of the cargo suspended. After the recent even more Senate did not alter a single word_ A ship Progress-IS was announced in terms serious incident, the space planners may previous bill, the so-called Law for which made it clear that no early return to well wish to make a thorough investigation Autonomy of the University, remained in Earth was contemplated. This replenish of what caused the explosion before at Parliament under four successive ministers ment craft carried fuel supplies for tempting another manned flight. If, of education, and suffered many changes Salyut-7, rations for the crew, and also however, it becomes imperative to bring before being withdrawn by the last centrist materials for further experiments, Tass Lyakhov and Aleksandrov back to Earth, government a year ago. said last week. it would still be possible to send up an un The new Law for University Reform is But the Tass statement has not ended manned Soyuz to dock automatically with intended to provide a general framework speculation in Western newspapers. There Salyut. for higher education in Spain. It defines the are said to be two main dangers threatening The idea put forward in some university as a public service, and higher the cosmonauts. First, if the Salyut is still newspapers that the Soviets may have sent education as the right of everyone who losing fuel, it might become impossible to up Progress-28 to keep the cosmonauts wishes to pursue it. The law is intended to make essential orbital corrections. There is alive until they can be rescued by the US help Spanish universities to achieve their also the problem of the cosmonauts' return shuttle in November is somewhat fanciful objectives of "scientific development, the to Earth. Transport to and from the Salyut -- such a rescue would, theoretically, be education of professionals and the stations is by the Soyuz two or three-person possible but replenishment by Progress is a spreading of culture". transport craft. For longer flights, these routine feature of long-term stays on Under the new law, university institu craft have the major disadvantage that Salyut and should not be interpreted as a tions will have much greater autonomy in after about 115 days in orbit, the propellant symptom of alarm. both economic and academic matters. The tanks, batteries and some of the sensitive Indeed, the only definite signs of con universities will now have the right to electronics are considered to be too cern for the safety of the cosmonauts have change their curricula, to select their own unreliable to ensure a safe return to Earth. come not from the engineers but from professors, to decide their own internal If the cosmonauts are to remain in space Soviet physicians. Cosmonauts on statutes and to administer money from the longer than three months, they will need a previous long-term missions have shown a state and from their own resources. All new spacecraft for their return trip. significant decline in activity and efficiency these changes are intended to encourage This, in normal conditions, presents no during their fourth month in space. This diversity and competition among Spanish great problem. The Salyut has a docking time it is hoped to counter this by a major universities. Most of these measures have unit at each end, so that it is perfectly feas change in the experimental programme. long been sought by university authorities. ible for a second Soyuz to dock with the During the first three months, the One part of the Jaw that has surprised complex while the original transport craft cosmonauts concentrated on geophysical many scholars has been that relating to pro is still in place. This replacement is normal observations, but from now on they are to fessors. Contrary to previous socialist par ly effected by sending up a short-term work on the production of new semicon ty policy, the law does not change the tradi guest-crew before the safe life of the ductor crystals and biologically pure tional status of of professors as civil ser original Soyuz has expired; the guests then substances. Furthermore, to improve their vants. Only a limited number of visiting return to Earth aboard the old Soyuz, leav physiological well-being and to overcome and associate professors with fixed-term ing the new one coupled to the Salyut. the sense of isolation from Earth reported contracts will be allowed. Professors will Unfortunately, the replacement Soyuz by their predecessors, Lyakhov and be divided into "titular" professors and that should have been launched at the end of Aleksandrov are woken each morning by "catedrtitico", both tenured but with no September blew up on the launch pad (its recorded bird-song. Vera Rich specifically different functions. To become a full professor (catedrtitico), three years experience as a titular professor will be necessary. The system of selection of teaching staff has also been modified, with a procedure based on candidates' curricula vitae instead of the classical examination procedure (oposiciones). All the teaching staff now under contract will in the next four years have an opportunity to achieve a permanent position through a special pro cedure. Spanish scientists working abroad can also take part under certain conditions. There has been a rush to introduce the changes in time for the academic year now beginning. Not until the system has been running for at least a year will the real effects of the law on Spanish universities be A Soyuz/SalyUI combination at a Moscow exhibition known. Pedro Puigdomenech