Russian Venture with Big Vision

摘要

Mikhail Kokorich was preparing to study aerospace engineering in Moscow when the collapse of the Soviet Union forced an end to his plans. "At the time, life in Moscow was very difficult," Kokorich said. "I came from a pretty poor family. We didn't have money for me to stay in Moscow." Instead, Kokorich decided to return to Siberia and focus on nuclear physics, a discipline he could study close to home. More than two decades later, Kokorich is once again engrossed in engineering as founder and president of Dauria Aerospace, Russia's first 100 percent privately owned and operated satellite manufacturing company. With offices in Munich; Skolkovo, Russia; and Mountain View, Calif., Dauria plans to deploy a fleet of small satellites to offer global Earth observation and communications services.