PLESETSK, Arkhangelsk Region. May 3 (Interfax-AVN) - Delays in equipment deliveries may affect the construction pace of the Angara space rocket launcher in Plesetsk, Space Forces Commander Colonel General Vladimir Popovkin told reporters at the Plesetsk Space Center on Wednesday.
"Much will depend on equipment, manufactured by enterprises of the Russian Federal Space Agency. There are a number of facilities ready to be fitted with equipment, but unfortunately the equipment proper is not ready yet," Popovkin said.
According to him, equipment delivery delays still take place despite the fact that the Space Forces have signed a contract with the Khrunichev Space Center.
"We have signed a big-ticket long-term contract with the Khrunichev Center until 2011," Popovkin said.
According to him, the Angara launcher will allow all types of spacecraft to be launched from Plesetsk. For instance, the Angara heavy launch vehicle will be able to orbit a payload comparable to that carried by the Proton launch vehicle.
"The system is designed for the Angara to even outrun the Proton, launched from Baikonur," he said.
According to him, it is more economically expedient to build the Angara launcher in Plesetsk, than at the Svobodny Space Center (the Amur region), despite the fact that the latter is closer to the equator, which means greater payloads orbited.
"Plesetsk features basic infrastructure, which enables the system to be constructed within a shorter period of time," he said.
In addition to that, the space industry is primarily based in western part of the country.
"Thus, transportation expenditures, especially, large-size cargo transportation through the Baikal Railway tunnels, will pose a big problem," Popovkin said.