Residents of Villages Where Rocket Fragments Drop to Undergo Medical Tests

The Federal Space Agency will intensify the protection of residents of the Republic of Altai from consequences of space launches from the Baikonur spaceport.

An agreement to that effect was reached at the Wednesday conference of the Altai government attended by representatives of the Center for the Operation of Land-Based Space Infrastructure, a source at the Altai Natural Resources Ministry told Interfax on Thursday. Deputy head of the agency’s department Alexander Bolysov led the delegation.

"The sides agreed to develop a mechanism of insurance against rocket fragments falling down outside designated areas by August. The Federal Space Agency said it would develop new environmental certificates for areas, where rocket fragments drop, and adjoining territories in 2010-2011," the source said.

The center was ordered to intensify the cleanup of 2,500 tonnes of space junk that had amassed in the Republic of Altai over past decades.

The government of the Republic of Altai and the Federal Space Agency will make a joint request to the Health and Social Development Ministry for a comprehensive medical checkup of residents of the Ust-Kan district, where rocket fragments often fall.

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