Funding permitting, Russia plans to launch 28 boosters in 1997, carrying a variety of satellites into orbit. These will include three manned Soyuz TM and four unmanned Progress M tankers to the Mir 1 space station.
At least three commercial Proton launches are scheduled, starting with the flight of the Tempo 1 in April, followed by the PAS 5 in June and, in November, the Asiasat 3.
Ten military satellite launches are planned for 1997, including those of three Gonets D1 and three Cosmos satellites on 23 January. Other launches planned are of the Kupon and Yamal communications satellites; the Sun-studying Korona F, together with Okean-O and Resurs 0-1 ocean-monitoring and remote-sensing satellites.
The Government has been told that 5,100 billion roubles ($940 million) will be required in 1997 to meet the schedule, compared with the 1,100 billion roubles which reached space agencies and organisations in 1996 (Flight International, 8-14 January).
Of the 23 spacecraft launches by Russia in 1996, two failed to place spacecraft in the correct orbits and there were two launch failures. This record compares with two failures in 1995 and one in 1994. Shortages of boosters led to delays or cancellations of some missions.
There were 44 launches in 1995 and 65 in 1994. Ten military satellites were launched in 1996, compared with 38 and 21 in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
Source: Flight International
