Kazakhstan impedes Russian space launch plans - source
MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Kazakhstan has permitted only 12 of the 17 Proton-M rocket launches requested by Russia, a Russian space rocket industry source told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
"The Kazakh side has reduced the number of launches of Proton-M launch vehicles in 2013 to 12, citing alleged environmental concerns, whereas Russia requested 17 launches," he said.
"If nothing changes, this cut will primarily affect commercial launches," the source said.
"This decision will make Russian launch operators pay considerable fines for failure to meet their international obligations, which today is unacceptable for them and is equivalent to bankruptcy. Apart from that, this measure will deliver a serious blow to Russia's image as a space exploration leader," the source said.
