ASTANA, JANUARY 9, RIA NOVOSTI - Russia and Kazakhstan have made an understanding to develop and manufacture a Baiterek rocket launching pad at the Baikonur space centre. An agreement on efficient use of the Kazakh-based centre, which Russia is renting, includes the point.
The Baiterek, an environmentally safe modification of Russia's Angara pad, will be flight-tested by Russia at its Plesetsk space centre.
Russia will do its utmost to help Kazakhstan as it joins Baikonur-based projects for new and clean launching installations and other joint space programmes-certainly with due consideration for Russian laws on state secrets, says the agreement. It offers equal terms to Russian and Kazakh companies and individual experts involved in the Baikonur efforts.
