Russia to Expand Soyuz Production, Consolidate Space Industry

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft in orbit

RIA Novosti reports that Roscosmos will begin to increase Soyuz spacecraft production to five per year in order to accommodate commercial flights to the International Space Station. The Russian space agency will begin advance payments to RSC Engeria to pay for the additional production capability.

“RSC-Energia need the 5th Soyuz to enter commercial space services market. We were requested about launching their astronauts to the ISS in Russian vehicles by Canadian Space Agency. We would have this opportunity with the 5th Soyuz,” said Alexey Krasnov, head of Roscosmos Human Space Flight Directorate.

Meanwhile, Russia plans to consolidate its aerospace industry, according to a news items on the Roscosmos website.

Russian space industry is to be reorganized in 4-5 large holdings by 2012, Roscosmos Deputy Head Vitaly Davydov told news media at the press conference in the Mission Control Center after the docking of Soyuz TMA-19 to the ISS.

Roscosmos developed a program to arrange integrated structures in the industry. Currently, there are 10-12 holdings, and by 2012 they are to unite in natural manner to form 4-5 bigger holding structures, according to Davydov.

There are no additional details on the move.