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ESA and Russia Forge Deal on Use of Launchers |
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MOSCOW, Jan 20/Satnews Daily/ ¾ European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia signed on Wednesday an agreement for long-term cooperation and partnership in the development, implementation and use of launchers.
This agreement, according to ESA, will strengthen cooperation between ESA and Russia in the long-term cooperation on access to space. The agreement, signed by ESA Director General, Jean-Jacques Dordain and the Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, falls within the general framework of an earlier agreement between ESA and the Russian Federation for Cooperation and Partnership in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.
ESA explained the partnership is based on two main
pillars: the exploitation of the Russian Soyuz launcher from Europe’s
Spaceport in French Guiana; and cooperation, without exchange of funds,
on research and development in preparation for future launchers. The Soyuz at Europe’s Spaceport program covers the construction of the Soyuz launch facilities in French Guiana and the renovations that Soyuz will need to enable it to be launched from French Guiana.
A number of ESA Member States have signed up for this optional ESA program and their contributions will be supplemented by a loan to Arianespace from the European Investment Bank, ESA said. This loan will be guaranteed by the French Government as a temporary measure pending the creation by the European Commission of a guarantee reserve mechanism.
According to ESA, work to prepare the Spaceport for Soyuz is already underway in French Guiana as the first launch from Europe’s Spaceport is scheduled to take place in 2007.
ESA said the will also allow work to begin on the second pillar, which is preparation activities for the development of future space transport systems. Europe and the Russian Federation will collaborate in developing the technology needed for future launchers. Russian and European engineers will work together to develop reusable liquid engines, reusable liquid stages and experimental vehicles.
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