LAUNCH SERVICES….

After the Russian government completed work on a decree to tighten controls on exports from the country’s state-owned arms traders (Rosvooruzhenie, Promeksport and Russian Technologies), the Clinton administration announced it will raise the limit on Russian launches of controlled Western satellites from sixteen to twenty. The additional launches could be worth $200-$300 million. The administration limits Russian launches through controls on the export of U.S. military technologies incorporated in the satellites. Satellite builders like Hughes and communications companies like Loral constantly press the administration for more licenses for launches on inexpensive Russian (and Chinese) rockets. American launch-service providers Lockheed-Martin and Boeing have both entered joint ventures with Russian and Ukrainian space-launch companies and no longer lobby against the loss of their commercial space-launch business.