Russia, Israel to boost space cooperation
Russia and Israel will expand space cooperation, pursuant to a document signed by the two sides’ space agencies. It provides for interaction as regards the exploration and use of outer space, as well as the application of space technologies for peaceful purposes.
Russia and Israel will expand space cooperation, pursuant to a document signed by the two sides’ space agencies. It provides for interaction as regards the exploration and use of outer space, as well as the application of space technologies for peaceful purposes. The agreement was signed by Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov and Director General of the Israeli space agency Tsvi Kaplan. Our correspondent Oleg Nekhai reports.
The two countries already have positive partnership experience in this area. In particular, Russian carrier vehicles assisted Israel in putting five of its spacecraft into orbit. At present, our country is developing an Amos-5 communications satellite for Israel, Anatoly Perminov pointed out. The new document, experts argue, facilitates the transition from purely commercial projects to a brand new level of interaction, opening up new fields as well. "This is an essential breakthrough in international space cooperation as far as Moscow’s interests are concerned," Director of the Institute for Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Naumkin stressed.
"This is yet more proof of Russia’s being of interest for many countries, including highly developed ones. A small state incapable of being on par with space powers, Israel is nevertheless rich in high-tech and scientific projects. It is quite natural that amid the escalating situation in the Middle East, that country is especially keen on boosting cooperation with a wide range of countries and promoting space research, coupling it with practical studies like those existing in Russia, for instance," Vitaly Naumkin said.
Cooperation of this kind, the expert believes, cannot pose any threat to third-party countries concerned over Israel’s military programs. On the contrary, Russian-Israeli space contacts provide guarantees of stability and security for all countries of the Middle East.
Russia and Israel are already stepping up cooperation in a number of spheres, such as energy and nanotechnology. Especially promising for the two countries’ space agencies are segments linked to space exploration, the discovery of new materials, navigation, medicine and space biology.
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