🚀 go-pugleaf

This weeks Space News has 3 stories related to Iridium.
The first says Iridium spokesman John Windolph confirmed
the Russian Proton booster has been selected as one of
several launch suppliers.  The article also claims 3
Protons are planned to launch 21 Iridium satellites.

In a related story, Lockheed (prime contractor for
Iridium satellites) has entered a partnership with the
Krunichev plant near Moscow to market the Proton booster.
Lockheed has agreed to pay $5 million over the next few
years to support the Krunichev plant and in return gets
exclusive marketing rights for all but Russian government
use of the Proton.

Any export of a US satellite like Iridium must still
get export permits to permit launch on the Proton. The
State Department approved the partnership late last month
and this decision is producing criticism now from
some US government officials, says Space News.

Last month the Russian Prime Minister announced the
deal and said something about funding Krunichev to
establish new Proton launch facilities at Plesetsk,
a move that would be good for NPO Energia which has mentioned 
the desire to launch Mir 2 from Russian territory.

There are a lot more details in the articles so check
them out if your interested, I don't know anything about
Iridium. 

Dennis Newkirk (dennisn@ecs.comm.mot.com)
Motorola, Land Mobile Products Sector
Schaumburg, IL