• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Russian Space Launch Prices Scrutinized

Posted on: Monday, 4 April 2005, 18:00 CDT

The Russian space agency will prevent Russian firms from undercutting world launch prices, a new agency reported.

Roskosmos, the Russian Federal Space Agency, will not allow dumping of launch services on the international market, spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko told the ITAR-TASS news agency.

There has lately been a tendency among Russian enterprises to offer satellite launch services to foreign customers at prices which are substantially lower than those prevailing on the world market, Roskosmos said in a news release.

In particular, proposals are being made for launches of foreign satellites using the Dnepr launch vehicle or its modifications.

Enterprises are asked to hold the necessary consultations with the Federal Space Agency before discussing and agreeing the main terms of contracts to provide launch services to foreign customers and before setting prices, the space agency said in a release.

The primary entity for the implementation of the program for development and operation of the Dnepr space launch system is Kosmotras, a Russian-Ukrainian space company. Kosmotras has scheduled five Dnepr launch missions for 2005 and the first half of 2006 for customers from Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Italy and the United States.

Source: United Press International

More News in this Category