Further details of Russian-German satellite launch deal

Published: 8/26/1999

More information has emerged concerning the agreement signed at MAKS-99 between the Russian state arms exporting agency, Rosvooruzheniye, and Germany's OHB-System (www.concise.org 8/18/99). The total cost of the deal is not disclosed. The revenues under the contract, excepting commission fees and overhead expenses (such as insurance and the cost of delivering the rockets to the launching pad) will be paid to the Russian strategic missile troops. The two German satellites, CHAMP and BIRD, together with Italy's META, will be launched by the Cosmos missile-carrier from the Plesetsk cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk region) in the second quarter of 2000. The two stage liquid-fueled missile Cosmos is developed by the Omsk Production Organization, Polyot. It is capable of bringing into circular (from 200 to 1,700 km) and sun-synchronous (from 400 to 1,000 km) orbits a cargo of 600-1,500 kg. The weight of the Cosmos is 109 tons, with a height of 32.2m and a diameter of 2.4m. Russia's missile has already launched two Indian, one American, French, Swedish, and Mexican satellites.

Article ID: 796