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Delay In Proton Quotas Causes Problems

By Staff Writer | August 30, 2000

      The U.S. State Department is delaying its announcement of commercial satellite launch quotas with Russia’s Proton launchers, which is having a negative effect on the Khrunichev center that produces the launcher and U.S. companies that produce and order the satellites.Out of the 20 Proton launch quota, seven are left and only two are planned before 2001. Russian officials said the quota issue must be settled now because the entire cycle for signing contracts, different document procedures and launch preparation is a two-year process.