Russian Space Program for 2006-2015 to Be Submitted to Govt in Dec

MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax) – The draft federal space program for 2006 through 2015 is expected to be submitted for the consideration for the government in December, the press service of the Russian Federal Space Agency reported.

The press release says an expanded session of the agency board was held in Moscow on Wednesday. Nikolai Anfimov, head of the agency’s key research center TsNIImash, delivered the main report.

“TsNIImash has drafted the federal space program for 2006-2015 and sent it [to respective authorities] for approval, and in December the program should be submitted to the Russian government for consideration,” the press release quotes Anfimov.

He said the planned events conform to national priorities.

The program “provides for developing new elements of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), upgrading and advancing it, designing promising launch vehicles and improving the ground infrastructure,” Anfimov said.

He said new spacecraft will be developed along with orbital communication systems, land remote sensing equipment and elements of GLONASS navigation system.

Anfimov said there are plans to carry out scientific studies of the solar system and its planets.

Much attention will be paid to the advancement of Baikonur and Plesetsk cosmodromes.

Space agency chief Anatoly Perminov who chaired the board meeting speaking of Baikonur said that it will soon focus on programs involving Soyuz-2 and Zenit launch vehicles (Ground Start project). The Russian-Kazakh launch site Baiterek will be established.