Russian Space Program For 2006-2015 Worked Out

LAUNCH PAD

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Moscow, Russia (SPX) May 18, 2005
The Russian space programme for 2006-2015 has been fully detailed the head of the Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov told Itar-Tass Wednesday, adding that the emphasis will be on making Russia a commercial player in the space industry while ensuring Russia can support its military related space needs.

"The programme should also be coordinated with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Finance Ministry," Perminov emphasized.

The programme that "was recognized as one of the best," according to Perminov, was initially considered in three variants � innovative and active, moderate and passive. "We've chosen the moderate variant that envisages 305 billion roubles from the budget proceeding from possible financing," he pointed out.

"Financing that we specified in the programme allows Russia to preserve the status of leading space power, realize its scientific-technical potential, preserve industry and jobs, strengthen positions on the world market and protect the national space market," Itar-Tass quoted Perminov as saying.

"The main emphasis is laid on the development of the national space industry "in order to produce spacecraft on our enterprises and on our equipment that will be competitive and in demand inside the country and abroad," Perminov told Itar-Tass.

The Russian space budget was small and virtually equal to the Indian space budget, Perminov added. The United States' space budget of 16.2 billion dollars, led the way, with the European Space Agency ranked second, followed by Japan and China.

"It is quite difficult to solve global tasks in space with such small financing. Therefore, we are actively involved in international projects, earning each third rouble in these projects," Perminov stressed.

According to spokesman for the Federal Space Agency, Vyacheslav Davidenko, the programme will be presented in the Ministry of Economic Development on Thursday.

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