Press releases

MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – An Alley of Cosmonauts has been planted in the Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, BelTA has learned.

Every cosmonaut and astronaut who is taking part in the 31s Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers planted a juniper with a rocket-shaped crown. “We are happy that it is in the Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences where the Alley of Cosmonauts has been planted. Students of the Suvorov military school and secondary schools helped the participants of the congress,” Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Sergei Kilin said.

President of the Association of Space Explorers, U.S. astronaut Bonnie Dunbar noted that planting trees is a meaningful tradition for all cosmonauts and astronauts. “Trees are a symbol of life. The alley will help us preserve the memory of the congress and thank the organizers for their hospitality,” she said.

Minsk is playing host to the 31st Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers on 9-15 September. Over 80 cosmonauts and astronauts from 17 countries are taking part in the event. The theme of the congress is Creating the Future of Space. The cosmonauts and astronauts are set to visit the Minsk DOSAAF aeroclub on 14 September and attend the closing ceremony in the evening.

The Association of Space Explorers is an international not-for-profit organization established in 1985 to share the best practices in the area of manned space flights. The ASE planetary congress gathers cosmonauts and representatives of scientific research institutions and national space agencies on an annual basis.