December 2015 Issue
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Russian Space Industry Remains Defiant Despite Tough Operating Conditions

Russia’s space industry has always been characterized by resilience. Despite facing economic hardship and international sanctions following the Ukraine crisis, Russia continues to push forward with ambitious space programs.

VIA SATELLITE: How is the Russian space industry coping with the current economic situation?

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The ruble’s depreciation has actually helped some parts of the industry, making Russian launch services more competitive on the international market. However, the sanctions and reduced government spending have created headwinds for the broader sector.

Roscosmos has been undergoing a major restructuring, consolidating many space enterprises into a single state corporation. The new structure is intended to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and better compete on the global launch market.

Russia’s commercial launch provider, International Launch Services (ILS), continues to market the Proton rocket globally. Despite several high-profile failures in recent years, Proton remains a competitive option for geostationary satellite operators.

GLONASS, Russia’s satellite navigation system, has achieved global coverage and continues to be developed. New satellites with improved capabilities are being added to the constellation.VS

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