Posted: Sat, Jan 17, 2004, 10:47 AM ET (1547 GMT)
Russian investors will pay to refurbish a Baikonur launch pad that will be used for launches of the Zenit 3 booster, Russian officials announced Friday. Energoaviakosmos, described as a "Russian financial-commercial structure", will pay to refurbish the launch pad for use by the Land Launch venture, a spinoff of the Sea Launch multinational project that uses the Zenit 3SL booster and a floating launch pad in the Pacific. Itar-Tass said that two main investors, the Siberian Coal Company and the Ural Mining Combine, will contribute the bulk of the $20 million needed for the project. When launched from that facility, the Zenit 3 will be capable of placing up to 3.5 tonnes into geosynchronous transfer orbit and 12 tonnes into low Earth orbit. Most of the revenues from those launches will stay with the Russian and Ukrainian companies that manufacture the vehicle, with only a commission going to Western partners, notably Boeing. The Land Launch project, announced last year, plans to begin launches from Baikonur as early as late 2005.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article