Khrunichev Wants To Expand Into Global Space Markets

SPACEMART

A Proton rocket under construction

Moscow - Nov. 24, 2000
The Russian state-run Khrunichev space center intends to expand its share of the world's space services market, in particular by launching heavy satellites with Proton rockets, the center's director general Anatoly Kiselyov told Interfax on Thursday.

Next year will not be easy, Kiselyov said. The center is scheduled to launch just three Protonnes in 2001 compared to 13 already launched this year.

The next launch is scheduled for November 30, 2000. In December, a Proton-M launcher with a new Briz-M booster will put an Ekran-S satellite into orbit.

However, according to Kiselyov, plans for 2001 are not limited to those three launches. We are in talks with Western partners on a fourth and further launches of satellites into geostationary orbit using Proton rockets, said Kiselyov.

Explaining the situation with launches, he said: Our client, unfortunately, cancelled the launch of four ICO mobile telecoms satellites produced by America's Hughes. More accurately, they have not been cancelled, but put back to 2002 - that is their right.

A packet launch costs tens of million of dollars and in today's competition it is necessary to make concessions so as not to lose this kind of order.

Khrunichev Space Center is ready now to launch the ICO satellites now, the Proton, boosters and other facilities are all ready, all that is left is pushing the button and getting the money. Unfortunately, Khrunichev Space Center will not see the money in 2000.

At the same time, says Kiselyov, in 2002, the space center has good prospects for 2002 - there are already 12 commercial launches. The rockets for launching them need to be made now.

He said foreign clients are making tougher conditions - paying mainly only after a launch. The industry suffers from the common problem that a serious Russian producer with projects taking years finds it difficult to get credit from banks.

Although it does have good experience, says Kiselyov, Khrunichev space center has been working with International Moscow Bank for eight years. It takes loans for space programs and repays them on time, being one of the most reliable commercial partners.

SPACE SCIENCE

Russia Details 2001 Space Priorities

Moscow (Interfax) Nov. 16, 2000
There are two priorities for next year's unmanned space flights, namely the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma project and the Integral satellite, chief of the Russian Aerospace Agency Yuri Koptev said at a news conference at Government House on Thursday.

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