U.S.
To Lift Quotas On Russian Launches
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Russia and the
United States have agreed to allow the launch quotas that limit
the number of commercial satellites built using U.S. components
which can be launched on Russian rockets to expire. The existing
agreement, expires Dec. 31, limited launches to no more than 20
satellites using Russian rockets. In recent consultations the two
sides decided not to extend the quota limits.
In
early May 1993 the quota system was introduced, by which Russia
could sell up to eight launches to GEO orbit through 2000, and
three more launches to low Earth orbit. In the agreement Russia
pledged to charge launch customers fees no lower than 7.5 percent
below existing western prices for the same equivalent launch
vehicle. On January 30, 1996 the ceiling on Russian launches was
raised to 16 GEO launches, with the added possibility of approvals
for an additional four launches. Those additional four Proton
launches were approved in June 1999, allowing a total 20 GEO
launches.
International
Launch Services (ILS), which markets Proton and Atlas launch
vehicles is the primary beneficiary of this agreement, just as the
Sea Launch venture, which launches the Zenit 3SL was the primary
beneficiary of the recent agreement to lift quotas on Ukranian
launch vehicles.
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