10.07 Proton Rocket to Stay in Demand Despite Accidents – Expert
MOSCOW, July 10 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Proton-M heavy carrier rocket will remain a key space launch vehicle despite its rather poor safety record, a prominent Russian space scientist said Wednesday.
“I think the Proton will keep its clients and maintain its niche because the [commercial] space launch market has a shortage of launch vehicles of this class,” Alexander Zheleznyakov, from the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, said during a news conference at RIA Novosti.
Russia's Proton-M and Europe's Ariane 5 are currently the most widely used heavy-lift space launch vehicles. Zheleznyakov believes that after 2015 they may face strong competition from China, with its Long March 5 rockets, and India, with its GSLV MK-III.
The Proton-M experienced several failed or partially failed launches in the past three years, which prompted insurers to significantly raise premiums for insuring Russian rockets. The Proton that was lost on July 2 had been insured for 6 billion rubles ($182 million) with the Russian Insurance Center.
Zheleznyakov said it would not be surprising if insurance premiums for future Proton launches would go up even more, a cost that would be reflected in higher prices for Proton services.
Meanwhile, Russia has begun a criminal investigation into last week’s failed launch of a Proton-M carrying three Glonass navigation satellites.
