Russian space industry to double by 2020
January 12, 2013, 6:26 pm

Russian Mission Control Centre [Getty Images]

Increases in output should give Russia a 16 per cent share in the world space technology market by 2020, up from the current 10.7 per cent, according to the document which is available on the website of Russia’s Federal Space Agency.

The programme would cost 2.1 trillion rubles ($69 billion), including private investment – which is missing at the moment.

Passed by the government in late December, the programme has not been published before.

It also reportedly contains a classified section, which was not made public.

The programme is designed to ensure Russia retains its position as a leading global space power, while also supporting its defense capability, and boosting economic and social development, Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev had said earlier.

Reform plans include the creation of the new Angara launch vehicle, development of the Vostochny space port in the Russian Far East and improvements to the Glonass satellite navigation system.

Space industry development is named the top priority in the document, followed by scientific research.

Manned spaceflight has only the third-highest priority, though the programme says that it would change after 2020, when the International Space Station is expected to end its mission.

The document reiterates a plan voiced late last year to unite dozens of Russian space industry enterprises into five to seven major holdings to attract private investors.

Russia’s space programme saw a slew of setbacks in recent years, most of them blamed on faulty hardware.

The most recent mishap took place in December, when a botched launch of the Yamal-402 telecoms satellite led to depletion of its fuel supply, shortening its orbit lifetime.

Source: Agencies