Disarmament Can Cut Both Ways

By Janice Castro

As the Soviets scale back their arms as well, they've come up with a startling idea on how to beat nuclear swords into plowshares while earning some desperately needed hard currency. Commerce Department officials say a Soviet firm called NPO Energiya wants to convert nuclear-missile-bearing submarines into floating launching pads for satellites. The company, which developed booster rockets for the Soviet space shuttle, explains that once the warheads are removed, the sub-borne ballistic missiles can be used to carry commercial payloads into space. On the other hand, will all those unemployed Soviet nuclear experts be put to peaceful use? Despots may be yearning for their advice. Arms-control experts like Geoffrey Kemp are worried that Soviet scientists could be wooed by the highest bidders. Says he: "What if they're offered $100,000 for six months in the sun?"

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart