The European Space Agency (ESA) in November may consider the possibility of launching Russian Soyuz launch vehicles from the Kourou space center in French Guyana, French Minister of Research Roger-Gerard Schwarzenberg told a Tuesday news conference at the Interfax central office.
He said he has requested that the ESA leadership apply all procedures to consider the matter at the November session in Edinburgh.
Schwarzenberg said that he discussed the construction of a launch pad for Russian Soyuz launch vehicles in Kourou with Yuri Koptev, head of the Russian Aerospace Agency, at their Tuesday meeting.
However, he said the decision on the project will be made only after a number of technical and economic matters are settled. In addition, although Kourou is in French territory, the decision largely depends on the ESA, he said.
Schwarzenberg said that on Tuesday morning he visited Star City near Moscow, and met French astronaut Claudie Andre-Deshays, who is training for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in October. Her coming flight was also discussed with Koptev, he added.
Representatives of the French aerospace industry are currently studying Russian offers to organize the production of certain components of Airbus Industrie aircraft at Russian aircraft-making facilities, Schwarzenberg said.
He said all these matters may be discussed during the visit of French President Jacques Chirac to Russia in July.
