[FPSPACE] Angara (for James Oberg)

[Igor Lissov]

Jim,

Today I found that my e-mail to you was blocked by
a spam filter (not for the first time, I believe).
Hope you will be able to fight the filter.

So I chose to answer you at the FPSpace list.

Angara has a long and difficult history. It's initial
driver was the desire to use the half-built Zenit
launch pad at Plesetsk. Nowadays the main driver is
to have a capability to launch military payloads to
geostationary orbit from the territory of Russia.
Other participants may have their own agenda, of course.

At the time of the decision, Plesetsk was the only
space launch center fit for this, and its northern
location impacted heavily the design of Angara.

The latest decision on Vostochny are not expected to
revert the Angara deal because too many money has
already been already spent at Plesetsk and Khrunichev
and Energomash and because of another 5-to-7 years
delay if you just go to Vostochny.

Yours,
Igor Lissov