Russian Space Vehicle Manufacturers & Commercial Launch Services

VIEWNET - Exporting "Minds" without physical transport of people the global labor market

The purchase of more than 102 satellite launches with ultimate launch of 840 satellites will be the largest transaction to take place between a U.S. company and a Russian company in this coming decade.

Teledesic, backed by billionairs Craig McCaw and Bill Gates, plans to launch a network of 840 low-earth-orbit satellites that would provide wideband telecommunicaitons to any point on earch. The company expects to begin launching satellites by 1999 and to start service in 2002. Several hundred thousand kilograms of material will b eput up in space.

On April 29th 1997, The Boeing Company invested $100 million yesterday with Bill Gates and Craig McCaw's plan to blanket the globe with communications satellites, by purchasing a 10% stake in Teledesic.

Apparently Boeing will be the prime contractor to place 840 satellites in low-earth orbit at an estimated cost of $9 billion or about $10,714,285 per satellite.

This system will be capable of high speed data transmission 60 times faster than today's fastest modems.

Some talks have taken place with The International Corporation for Space Transport Systems a coalition of the Russian Space Agency, The Ukraine national Space Agency, several engineering and scientific research organizations and former Soviet missile manufacturers. The launch discussions contemplate using converted Soviet SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles, originally designed to carry nuclear warheads.

Microsoft, Teledesic and Palms & Company are all located on Lake Washington in Kirkland (Seattle), within one mile of each other. (see photo of facilities on my web pages)

═