Russia’s strategic rocket forces have planned at least 14 more space rocket launches before the end of the year, the forces’ press service has announced with reference to deputy commander in charge of space programs, Lt. Gen. Valery Grinya.
Press service chief Col. Ilshat Baichurin has said that since the beginning of the summer, 13 space vehicles have been put into orbit by eight carrier rockets. Six of them were launched from Baikonur in Kazakhstan and two from Plesetsk.
Five launches have been carried out directly by the strategic rocket forces’ crews–three from Baikonur and two from Plesetsk. Another three launches sponsored by the Russian Space and Aviation Agency took place with the participation of the strategic rocket forces.
“In the estimate of specialists, this period of space launches is the most intensive in the post-Soviet era,” Baichurin said.
Russian and Ukrainian Launch Industry Weathers Economic Woes
Moscow – June 20, 2000 – 
The Ukrainian and Russian launch industry is continuing to hold its own while seeing future opportunities for expansion with the end of restrictions on Ukrainian commercial launchers.
