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RF scientists hope for Ukrainian, Kazakh assistance in moon program

Russian lunar programme is planned for the 2015-17 period. During the time, three spacecraft will be sent to the earth's satellite

ST. PETERSBURG, November 23 (Itar-Tass) — Russian scientists hope for assistance of Ukrainian and Kazakh colleagues in the moon research programme, the head of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lev Zelyony, told a press conference at the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly meeting in St. Petersburg on Friday.

"We have agreed with the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and discuss the possibility of cooperation with Kazakh scientists. We are very much interested in the intellectual and technical potential of our colleagues. It is in the common interests," he said.

According to the scientist, one of the key parts of the programme will be spacecraft touching down at the moon poles. The situation is very interesting there. Spacecraft did not touch down in such areas. There are areas with much water ice on the surface at the moon poles. It could be brought by comets, life carriers in the solar system. "We hope to find interesting things," he noted.

The Russian lunar programme is planned for the 2015-17 period. During the time, three spacecraft will be sent to the earth's satellite. The first is to touch down on the moon in 2015. The programme also envisages research of an orbit around the moon and organization of a mission to the vibration point of the earth-moon system.

Space cooperation is one of the main topics of the 38th meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

Federation Council Speaker and CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko noted after the meeting that space research by Russian scientists for peaceful purposes was also promising in cooperation with colleagues from Belarus, Armenia and Tajikistan. “Interstate cooperation in the area is very promising. There can be no competition for us in the area. It is possible to become the winners only if we unite efforts and will jointly work in space research," she said.