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Russia, Belarus continue space cooperation

The launch of the Canopus-B and BKA satellites was carried out by the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle on July 22

MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) — Russia-Belarus Union State has already implemented three space exploration programs and continue two more union projects, Union State Secretary Grigory Rapota told Itar-Tass on Tuesday, commenting on last weekend’s successful launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome of two satellites – Russia’s Canopus-B and Belarusian BKA. He also stressed that by 2013 the two countries plan to adopt common standards in the sphere of space activities.

“The launch of the satellites took place in the format of national projects. The plans for technical support of information data that will be transmitted from BKA and Canopus-B, as well as for their distribution and use will be accepted through a special reception centre, developed on the basis of the union programs,” said Rapota. “That is, we have created the ground infrastructure elements.”

According to him, since 1999 three programs: Cosmos-BR, Cosmos-SG and Cosmos-NT have been already implemented. “Two more Union programs - Nanotechnology-SG and Standardisation-SG are currently being implemented,” said Rapota. As for the Nanotechnology-SG program, it is the development of new materials and devices,” which are planned to be used in the future in the production of equipment for spacecraft and for land use.

“But we must clearly understand that without uniform information exchange standards between the two countries it is difficult to unify the work in this sphere,” Rapota stressed. “Therefore, within the framework of the Standardisation program by 2013 it is planned to complete the development of common standards in the field of space activities.”

The launch of the Canopus-B and BKA satellites was carried out by the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle on July 22. These two “twin spacecraft,” in addition to Earth’s remote sensing will also fulfil tasks related to Belarus’ security, chief designer of the Belarusian space system Sergei Zolotoi said. According to him, the main advantages of the joint work are evident. “It takes 80 to make images of the entire territory of Belarus with one spacecraft. Two satellites will do it in 40 days,” he said.

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