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Russia plans breakthrough in space research projects before end of this decade

Concerning the Martian program, Russia will keep pace with Europe

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, September 16 (Itar-Tass) —— Before the end of this decade Russia will make a breakthrough in space research projects – the launch of satellites on fundamental scientific missions, head of the Federal Space Agency technical policy and quality department Mikhail Khailov said.

"We plan to launch Spectrum-RG in 2014 for monitoring space objects in the x-ray and gamma ranges, Spectrum-UF in 2016 to study the outer space in the ultra-violet range and Spetrum-M by the end of this decade to probe the universe in the millimeter and sub-millimeter range," he said.

Concerning the Martian program, Russia will keep pace with Europe, he said. Projects are planned for 2016 and 2018, and a rover will land for collecting Martian soil samples in 2018. Both launches will be done under the ExoMars program, Khailov said.

Five satellites will be put to orbit before 2015 for fundamental science purposes. One of them, Canopus, is possible already this year, Khailov said.

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