Krunichev uses the Paris Air Show to make a big statement

Published: 6/29/1999

The intention of the Russian space industry to make its mark on the Le Bourget 99 was embodied in a full-scale mockup of the Angara rocket, which was prominently displayed at the entrance to the show site. The Angara's manufacturer, the Khrunichev State Space Scientific Industrial Centre (GKNPTsKh), is rumoured to have paid a significant sum for the prime positioning. Khrunichev has had a successful few years in terms of earnings, largely owing to its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) project, for which it has built the FGB Zarya functional cargo block (now orbiting) and the SM service module. The SM is now at Baikonur cosmodrome undergoing electrical checks. Financial troubles, which have undermined its construction, have been largely overcome. According to Mr Anatoly Kiselyev, General Director of Khrunichev, the Russian Space Agency (RSA) has paid the company for the assembly of a Proton launch vehicle, which should put the SM in orbit in November 1999. In addition to the two core modules, Khrunichev has to build several elements of the Russian ISS segment: the Unified Docking Module, the Multifunctional Module and the Research Module. Khrunichev, which produced four generations of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), is also contracted to service all ground-launched ICBMs in service with the Russian Nuclear Missile Force. At the Paris Air Show, Mr Kiselyev also outlined a few of Krunichev's future projects stating that the company was optimistically working on a project to remove residual nuclear materials from earth, by launching them towards the Sun. Proton and quotas The most lucrative activity for Khrunichev in recent years has been launches of the Proton heavy rocket. In service since the mid-1960s, the Proton will fly for at least another ten years. Khrunichev is introducing the Proton-M, a new version set to beat its rival Ariane-5, both on technical performance and price. The Proton-M has a carbon payload adapter twice as light as the older metal one. Some of the Proton-M structural members are also made using Berilium and light metal alloys. With the Breeze-M boosting block, the Proton-M will be able to deploy 5.5 t loads into geotransfer orbits. The first launch of the Proton with Breeze-M should take place at end June 1999. The Proton is used extensively in the Russian national space program, and as a commercial launch vehicle on the international market. In all, there will be 12 Proton flights by the end of 1999, including five as part of the Federal programme. In 2000, the Federal Space Programme requires five Proton flights. The demand for the Proton service has been so high that Khrunichev and Lockheed-Martin have taken steps to increase the rate of the launcher production by 50%, to 18 units annually, starting from 2000. Mr Kiselyev estimated international demand for communications satellites to be 22-27 flights of Proton-class rockets, able to place a heavy satellite into geotransfer orbits. The Proton is available on the international market via ILS (International Launch Services), a joint venture between Khrunichev and Lockheed-Martin, which also offers the Atlas III launch vehicle. ILS's share of the market is 50%. It holds contracts for five Proton flights into geotransfer orbits plus two into low orbits for the rest of 1999. For 2000, ILS has secured contracts for five flights into low orbits. However, ILS business could be seriously affected if the USA does not grant it additional quotas for commercial Proton launches. These quotas are a part of Russian-USA interstate agreement, under which the USA allows Russia to offer certain services on international markets in return for non-transfer of rocket technologies to third world countries. In 1993, the USA gave Russia a quota of eight launches by the year 2000, and then, in 1996, increased the figure to 20. Mr Kiselyev told journalists in Paris that, at the time, “ the policy of quotas was a fair one”. He added that, since Russia was new to the market, it had to prove itself, and commented that: “By now we have made 15 launches, while observing very carefully the regime of non-transfer of rocket technologies and the regime of technological guarantees for US-built satellites. Our prices have been competitive, but not artificially low. In other words, Russia has showed that it behaves well on the market and offers competitive products and that attracts the customers to the Proton.” Mr Kiselyev added that: “After our customers had performed first launches, they analysed their results and found out that the Proton is the best launch vehicle on the market. It has the best precision of deployment, which saves fuel in the tanks of satellites. It offers lower vibration levels, temperatures and g-loads.” According to Mr Kiselyev, when it became clear that the ILS business was very lucrative, US politicians turned technical issues into political issues. In particular, the right to grant licenses for shipping of a commercial satellites abroad has since been transferred from the Office of Trade to the Department of State. Mr Kiselyev considers this to be “nonsense”, contending that “the Department of State by its nature has to resolve political issues and not interfere with business activities. However, he is optimistic that, together with Lockheed-Martin, Khrunichev will manage to overcome “the bureaucracy of the Department of State”. Hopes are being pinned on a meeting between Mr Stepashin, Russian Prime Minister and Mr Al Gore, US Vice-President, at which the issue of Proton quotas should be on the agenda. Mr Kiselyev said that Lockheed Martin is keen to continue co-operative efforts with Khrunichev. However, the actions of the US Department of State has prompted Khrunichev to consider other business options, including possible co-operation with European companies. Rokot Already, Khunichev has teamed up with DASA of Germany on the joint marketing of the Rokot launch vehicle as part of the Eurokot joint venture. The Rokot can deploy to geotransfer orbits payloads up to 2 t. It is a conversion rocket on the base of the SS-19 ICBM. So far, the Rokot has had two test launches. Khunichev believes that the growing market for small satellites will require many launches in the near future, while the manufacturers can offer very few acceptable rockets. The Rokot has a competitor in the form of the Dnepr, a product of the Kosmotrans company between Russia and Ukraine. Mr Kiselyev said that: “The Dnepr is a very good vehicle, but it twice as heavy as the Rokot. In addition, the Rokot has a number of advantages. Firstly, our launch vehicle has a third stage, the Breeze-KM, which allows the Rokot to have a geostationary capability. None of the existing small rockets has such a capability”. The launch site for the Rokot in Plesetsk cosmodrome will be ready in two - three months' time, so enabling the Eurokot conduct commercial launches to starting from the end of 1999. Ten contracts for Rokot flights have been secured. Mr Kiselyev is confident that the number of orders will grow. Angara Khrunichev 's future lies with the Angara family of launch vehicles. All the members of the family are built on standard thrust block, employing a single Energomash RD-190 engine, a derivative of the RD-170/171 in use on the Zenit rocket. Funds for Angara development are provided by RSA, Russian MoD and Khrunichev itself. Conceived as a military launch vehicle, the Angara is now undergoing “commercialisation”. The project will now be in part funded by foreign investors. The Angara 1.1, which is planned to fly in 2001, is for deployment of small satellites. It will replace the Rokot. Mr Kiselyev considers that: “The market for this class of launch vehicles promises to be big”, said Kiselyev, who added that there have been no quotas on commercial use of light rockets. Khrunichev intends to offer customers a package of services, including a launch vehicle and a satellite. Mr Kiselyev confirmed that: “Our policy in small rockets is to try to compete head-to-head against the US”. However, he is open to the idea of teaming up with US companies in this sector, “provided it would be a mutually lucrative business not affected by political issues”. He claims that international interest in the Angara has been high in terms of its joint marketing. Offers on the Angara have been received from Lockheed-Martin, DASA, and the Pacific Consortium. According to Mr Kiselyev, the development of the Angara as a launch vehicle is well funded, in contrast with its launch site in Russia. The cost of rocket development is comparable to the cost of the construction of a launch site. To reduce expenses, it was decided to use an unfinished launch site erected for the Zenit. It is 80% ready, and will require minor improvements to provide launches of the whole Angara family, from the 147-t Angara 1.1 to the 750-t Angara-5. So far, financing for the completion of the launch site has been provided only from the sources of the Russian MoD, and has been not sufficient. Now RSA and Khrunichev are in negotiations with a number of foreign investors to finance the completion of the facility. Mr Kiselyev is optimistic that an investor will be found, and the launch site will be ready to conduct first Angara flight, as planned, in 2001. Launch Sites At the Paris Airshow, RSA and Khrunichev confirmed that they have abandoned the idea to construct a new cosmodrome in former ICBM base Svobodny. The major activities will take place at the existing cosmodrome in Plesetsk. Baikonur will also be used, although the load on it will be gradually reduced. Some customers need the inclination of Baikonur, which is the main reason to continue to use it in the future. Khrunichev has a silo at Baikonur to conduct Rokot flights. However, the company has not yet resolved with Kazakhstan authorities the matter of payment for the area for fall of the rocket first stages. Meanwhile, RSA and Khrunichev have recently completed the major overhaul of a Proton launch pad at Baikonur. Thefirst launch from it is planned for end June 1999. The renovated facility will provide launches of the Proton-M. RSA and Khrunichev are negotiating with a number of foreign companies for the funding of new launch sites. In particular, active contacts have been secured for a plan to build a new launch site on Christmas Island, off the coast of Australia for the Angara family, in addition to one in Plesetsk. The Australian project will be funded by the Pacific Consortium, which is in the final stages of foundation. Mr Kiselyev claimed that the process is 70% complete, and that there are a number of “decent, trustworthy banks are in it” although did not elaborate on the banks that fell into this category. However, the project is still contingent on the approval of the Australian and Russian governments.

Article ID: 636