Russian space carriers to launch space vehicles from Kuru space port in two years

Cooperation with the European Space Agency, ESA, on the programme of launching space vehicles from the Kuru space port in French Guyana will bring Russia about €1 billion, said head of the Russian aerospace agency Yuri Koptev in an interview with RIA Novosti. He takes part in the 45th International Air Show held in the suburbs of Paris, Le Bourget.

The programme that will use Russian Soyuz space carriers to launch space vehicles from Kuru starts in 2005 and is intended for eight years, he recalled.

When speaking on the financial conflict with the Swiss company Noga, whose actions forced Russia to refrain from sending its military equipment, first of all Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, to the Le Bourget Air Show, Koptev said he hoped the situation would be settled. "We have now hired new lawyers who can plead cases and have already won two trials. I hope by the time the programme of Soyuz launches from Kuru starts the problems with the Swiss company will be settled," he said.