The number of Russian space launches will be doubled in the coming year, as the news agency RIA Novosti informs, referring to the statement of Igor Komarov, Director General at “Roscosmos”.
“The launch program for the next year provides for a significant increase. In the coming year we will face, in fact, a twofold increase in the number of launches”, as the industrialist said.
Moreover, Mr. Komarov said that the increased launch program would start in January 2017. The first launches will be carried out from the Guiana Space Center, and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. As early as February, the Plesetsk Cosmodrome will begin its active operation, and there will be simultaneously undertaken intensive work to finalize the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
As is already known, this year, Russia has lost its space launch positions for the first time in 17 years. In addition, Russia for the first time has carried out less launches than the USA and China. Moreover, this decline was due to a total lack of orders for launching telecom satellites, both from the Joint-Stock Company “Gazprom-Space Systems” and by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Satellite Communications”.
