Kazakhs, Russians Create New Space Complex

LAUNCH PAD

Russians Plan To Build New Space Complex at Kazakhstan

Is Russia's space industry finally about to see a spring thaw and bloom again.

Almaty, Kazakhstan (UPI) Dec 06, 2004
Russian space officials said Monday they will build a new rocket launch complex at Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome by the end of 2008.

Alexander Medvedev, head of the Khrunichev State Space Research and Production Center, signed the general plan for creating the Baiterek rocket and space complex for Angara boosters - new Russian heavy launch vehicles - the Itar-Tass news agency said.

Baiterek's infrastructure will be based on existing launch sites for heavy boosters.

An undisclosed source at Baikonur was quoted by the agency as saying Russian specialists will begin work at the launch site after the Russian and Kazakh space agencies settle the issue of financing.

Earlier this year, Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov was reported to have said his country was ready to allocate $200 million for Baiterek.

Once owned by the former Soviet Union, the Baikonur cosmodrome - 330 miles to the southwest of the Kazakh capital of Astana - is now leased from Kazakhstan by the Russian government.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2004 by United Press International. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by United Press International. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of by United Press International.

LAUNCH PAD

Ariane 5's Auxiliary Payloads Are Placed Atop The Launcher

Paris, France (SPX) Nov 29, 2004
Preparations for Arianespace Flight 165 marked another milestone last week as the mission's six auxiliary payloads were integrated on the Ariane 5 launcher. This activity took place in the upper levels of the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, where the ASAP 5 auxiliary payload dispenser ring was moved into place atop Ariane 5's central cryogenic core stage.