Russian booster hit by delay

Russia's Khrunichev has delayed the first launch of the planned Angara satellite launch vehicle by two years, to 2003, following a lack of funding.

Although US company International Launch Services (ILS) will eventually market the launcher family, Angara relies on Russian Government funds for its development. ILS will market Angara in its stable of boosters once a model which can provide geostationary orbiting (GEO) capability is produced. The first Angara, designated 1.1, is only a low Earth orbit launcher and will likely replace Eurockot's Rokot in about 2007.

There are no firm plans yet to develop a GEO version.

Source: Flight International