Re: SeaLaunch Ship Could Be Impounded

[Dave Clements <clements@xxxxxx>]

On Tue, 18 Aug 1998, Mark Reiff wrote:

> Dave Clements wrote:
> 
> > And if the latter, who is pulling Customs strings?
> 
> Last I checked the Customs Service is in the Administration and works
> for the President (and by association the VP.)

Isn't that a little disingenuous? Someone has already noted that a senator
might have pulled Custom's strings elsewhere, so its clearly possible that
forces other than the administration can play a role. If this isn't a case
of pure cock-up, than one has to look at who has most to gain from Sea
Launch's delay or failure, and that surely is other launch companies, and
Lockheed in particular, IMHO.

And isn't the administration likely to be a bit distracted by sexual
matters at the moment?
  
> > Of course the sensible thing for Sea Launch to do in these circumstances
> > is to relocate to another Pacific port that isn't worried about these
> > issues (say somewhere in Oz).
> 
> No, the sensible thing to do is file the right forms and pay any fines -
> and kiss the "feet" of the Customs Service, least they seize the Sea
> Launch ship and Zenit rockets.  That would be real bad for Boeing. 
> Going "off-shore" would be a big political mistake for Boeing.

So you think Kistler's choice of Oz as a launch site is a mistake? I'd be
interested to hear your reasons.

The thing many people don't realise is that the space busniess, like so
many others, is truly global, and will thus go where its treated best. If
Sea Launch isn't treated well in the US, then it should go somewhere else.
Of course Boing's other interests might affect such a decision, but Sea
Launch in isolation might do best in a different jurisdiction. After all
they have more to gain from Ukranian technology, Glaswegan shipbuilding
and Norweigan engineering than they might from any US flag waving that
might be involved.

Dave







References:
Re: SeaLaunch Ship Could Be Impounded
From: Mark Reiff <mreiff1@xxxxxxxxxx>





	

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