NASB, Roscosmos sketching out new space programs

The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Federal Space Agency of Russia (Roscosmos) are going to sketch out new Union State programs in space exploration, BelTA learned from NASB academician Piotr Vityaz on 6 May.

A session of the Belarusian-Russian working group in charge of preparing proposals concerning the list and the content of promising Union State programs and the development of cooperation between organizations and enterprises of Roscosmos and NASB took place in Minsk on 6 May. Piotr Vityaz is a co-chairman of the working group. The session tabled the effectiveness of the Union State programs, which are being implemented now. The number includes Monitoring SG and Standardization SG. Participants of the session also talked over the development of new programs, in particular, those involving the outer space.

Piotr Vityaz remarked that they had also discussed the need to create new space and ground equipment, new materials, standards, technological solutions, the need to train personnel and form the legal base.

In turn, Yuri Makarov, Head of the Strategic Planning Office of Roscosmos, mentioned interesting Belarusian proposals for cooperation. Roscosmos is interested in the project for launching an education satellite, which is being developed by the Belarusian State University, in the formation of components of satellites for the remote sensing of the Earth. He said Roscosmos was also interested in the proposal to create a center to provide space services using a common Belarusian-Russian platform.

Roscosmos representatives will stay in Minsk through 8 May. While in Minsk they are expected to visit the Belarusian State University and the electronics manufacturer OAO Integral. Roscosmos representatives will also meet with representatives of the defense industry contractor OAO Peleng and the State Defense Industries Committee of Belarus.