Putin: Russia Should Increase Launch Share

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tours RSC Energia in July. (Credit: Russian Federation Government)

Russia looks to grab half of world space launch market
RIA Novosti

Russia needs to increase its presence on the global space market and increase its share of launches from 40% to 50%, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

“Our country presently provides up to 40% of all space launches in the world. I believe it is well within our power to increase this share by another 5% or maybe even 10%,” he said.

He stressed, however, that Russia should not confine itself to the role of an “international space cabbie.”

“We need to expand our presence on the global space market, which, incidentally, has grown 150% since 2003 and is now worth around $200 billion. That’s big business,” Putin said.

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