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	Russia's Launch Plans for 2001 By Yuri Karash Moscow Contributing Correspondent posted: 07:00 am ET 04 January 2001

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Russia plans at least 29 spacecraft launches in 2001 from land-based launch sites as well as another three payloads to be launched from the Sea Launch ocean-based platform.

According to representatives of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN), 22 launches will be conducted from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, six launches from Plesetsk in Northern Russia, and one from Svobodniy in the Russian Far East.

According to RKK Energia, one of Sea Launch's primary operators, at least 3 launches have been planned for the platform. The first one has been scheduled for January 9, another for March and a third one for June, 2001.

Of the 30-plus launches between eight and nine will be piloted missions.

While 2001 looked rather promising for the Russian space program, the countrys launch activities have declined by almost 20% compared to 2000. Last year was better for the Russian space program than 1999, said Yuri Koptev, General Director of Rosaviakosmos, the Russian Space Agency.

Russia made 38 launches in 2000, as compared to 29 in 1999.

"Last year also proved one more time that Russia has currently no alternative to the Baikonur Cosmodrome," stressed Koptev. "At least until Russia has a booster other than the Proton, or until the time when Plesetsk cosmodrome can support the Angara operation."

Angara is a new booster currently being developed by the Khrunichev center. It is destined to replace the Proton, the main workhorse of the Russian space program.

According to Koptev, 30 launches were conducted this year from this launch site located in Kazakhstan.

"Overall the Russian aerospace industry output has increased by 18-20% in 2000," said Koptev. "At the same time, about 30-40% of the industry was not in use."

Koptev made it clear that he sees the future of Russian aerospace industry further integrating and merging with the aerospace enterprises in Europe. This may lead to 30-40% reduction of the current Russian aerospace industrial potential.

However, one should not think that Russian space industry will become less powerful because of such reduction, warned Koptev. It will just "get rid of fat and build up muscles."