New Angara rocket ready for launch by 2017, say manufacturers

Russia’s new Angara 1.2 space rocket will make its commercial debut in 2017, according to International Launch Services (ILS), the Virginia-based subsidiary of Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center responsible for  international sales. ILS was also involved with the Soviet-era  Proton-M rocket that has suffered a series of crashes and failures in recent months, but is hoping that its new venture will give the small satellite industry a viable third option in a marketplace dominated by Space X (US) and Arianespace (France).