Russian, European, U.S. Officials to Discuss Joint Space Projects

MOSCOW. July 21 (Interfax) – Russian Federal Space Agency head Anatoly Perminov is to meet with Western partners to discuss cooperation under the International Space Station project.

“Perminov has flown to Nordvik (Norway) for talks, as leader of a Russian delegation,” Federal Space Agency spokesman Vyacheslav Davydenko told Interfax.

He said multilateral talks between the heads of the space agencies of the countries participating in the ISS project will be held in Nordvik from July 21 to 24.

Perminov will meet with European Space Agency General Director Jean-Jacques Dordain to discuss further cooperation under the ISS project, including an ESA astronaut’s flight to the ISS on a long- duration expedition in October, 2005, as well as an ESA astronaut’s flight to the ISS on a brief visit in April, 2005. The parties will discuss the organization of the first flight of the Jules Vern spacecraft in 2005, said Davidenko.

Perminov will also meet with chief of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency, Sean O’Keefe, to discuss organizational aspects of the ISS project. The Russian and U.S. space agency chiefs will discuss the possibility of resuming shuttle flights, and individual aspects of U.S. space programs, ” he said.

During the visit, a delegation of the Federal Space Agency will visit the European Space Agency’s space center.