Sunday, May 15, 2005
India to launch Russian satellites
Vladimir Radyuhin
MOSCOW: India may launch Russian satellites for a global navigational system next year, a Russian space chief said on Friday.
Accord
The launch will take place under an Indo-Russian accord on the joint use of the Russian satellite communication system, GLONASS, signed in December during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
Agreement finalised
Deputy Chief of Russia's Federal Space Agency Roskosmos, Alexander Medvedchikov, said India and Russia were finalising an agreement on the legal framework for bilateral space cooperation.
Space programme
Mr. Medvedchikov said Russia was likely to take part in India's space programme, including manned flights and joint construction of new satellites.
"Our cooperation has made big strides recently and we are discussing a whole range of possible joint projects," Medvedchikov told The Hindu .
"Both sides are keen to expand bilateral cooperation."
The Roskosmos chief said India's space programme was progressing "at a high pace" and Russia can not only share with India its expertise but also learn from India.
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