ZHELEZNOGORSK, Krasnoyarsk territory. Feb 6 (Interfax-AVN) - Information Satellite Systems (ISS-Reshetnev), a leading Russian spacecraft manufacturer, has filed a bid for a tender to build a satellite for Brazil, ISS-Reshetnev General Director and General Designer Nikolai Testoyedov told Interfax-AVN.
"We have filed a bid for a tender announced by Brazil to build a communication satellite. We have passed the first stage, at which offers are considered, and will take part in the following stages," Testoyedov said.
In commenting on reports that Russia has offered to build a constellation of communication and remote sensing satellites based on the Express-500 platform developed by ISS-Reshetnev for Brazil, Testoyedov noted that Brazil is pursuing a joint project with Ukraine on launching Ukrainian-made Cyclone-4 launch vehicles from the Alcantara spaceport in Brazil.
"The spaceport is located close to the equator, and therefore it is very beneficial for space launches from the energy-saving viewpoint. The Cyclone-4 is not a very powerful rocket, and its loading with small-class satellites is under consideration. The Ukrainian-Brazilian consortium is currently filling the contract portfolio. The proposals that we have made to Brazil are only at the initial phase, and so it's too early to talk about them," he said.