Russia to launch privately built satellite

Russia is preparing to launch the first satellite manufactured by a private firm in the country, the head of the aerospace company involved said. The DX1-class 1,100-pound satellite, set for launch in 2013, will be designed to "fine-tune a satellite platform, monitor the movement of ships in the world's oceans and test a variety of payloads," Mikhail Kokorich, head of satellite constructor Dauria Aerospace, said. Work on a second satellite, dubbed DRE, will begin by the end of this year, Kokorich said, and eventually several DRE-class satellites will be launched to provide space imagery. Dauria Aerospace, in addition to building the satellites, will also operate them and market their services, RIA Novosti reported.