"Indian carrier rockets will launch Russian GLONASS navigation satellites free of charge; we are only going to bear costs pertaining to delivery of the satellites to India and exercise of ground support operations," he said.
With reference to the number of GLONASS satellites to be placed in orbit by Indian launch vehicles, Mr. Kosenko said, "We are planning to put two or three GLONASS satellites in orbit to expand our group of navigation spacecraft on duty."
Earlier, head of Rosaviakosmos Anatoly Perminov told RIA Novosti that Russian GLONASS satellites would be placed in orbit with the aid of both Russian and Indian launch vehicles.
"These spacecraft will be put in orbit not only by Russian carrier rockets launched from Russian space launch complexes but also by Indian launch vehicles lifting off from an Indian space port, he said. "We will have to jointly set up appropriate ground facilities for that," the head of Rosaviakosmos added.
According to Mr. Perminov, it was a very vital and significant decision for Russia. "For us, it is a breakthrough, particularly in that part of the globe," he underlined. "The system will operate on a commercial basis. The commercial success of the GPS system proves high business viability of the new project," Anatoly Perminov specified.
He also pointed out that by 2007 Russia, with India's collaboration, plans to expand its overall group of GLONASS satellites in orbit to 18 spacecraft.
"By 2007 we plan to expand, with India's collaboration, our group of GLONASS satellites in orbit to the minimum level of 18 spacecraft. Eventually, the number of satellites in the group may increase further, but a decision on that will have to be made at a later stage," Mr. Perminov said.
"At present, we have 11 GLONASS satellites in orbit, but to ensure optimal coverage of the Russian and Indian territory, the system must consist of at least 18 such spacecraft," the head of Rosaviakosmos pointed out. "In the future, we plan to enhance the system's accuracy of positioning objects on the Earth's surface to as little as 1 meter," he added.
According to him, India has lately become a major space power. "At present, in terms of funding, India has reached Russia's level of space investment. The next five years may see India coming ahead of Russia in terms of investment in civilian space programs," Anatoly Perminov said. That is why we should do our best to encourage space cooperation with India, he stressed.
