"Russia is planning to establish a world record, effectuating a total of 39 space launches in 2009, despite of the current global financial crisis, the Russian chief of the Space Agency said on Monday. "We are planning a record number of launches for next year. We are planning the implementation of 39 launches, with half of these being civil and commercial satellites," said Anatoly Perminov."

"Perminov said that Russia is going to fulfill all of its obligations on behalf of its international partners. "In spite of the difficulties created by the crisis, we are preparing to launch four manned space missions in 2009, instead of two, and we are planning to send payloads on six vehicles for the International Space Station, instead of four."

Arf