Press releases

MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) – Belarus’ accomplishments in space exploration were presented during the UNISPACE+50 symposium in Vienna, the press service of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) told BelTA.

The Belarusian delegation took part in celebrations of the 50^th anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The Belarusian delegation was led by Deputy Chairman of the NASB Presidium, Academician Sergei Kilin. He made a speech during the UNISPACE+50 high-level segment of the 61^st session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Sergei Kilin noted: “Today Belarus’ demand for space images with the spatial resolution of 2 meters has been fully met. Yet the Belarusian satellite BKA has capacity to spare. We would like to offer it to consumers from other countries. Belarus’ demand for telecommunication services has been fully satisfied, too.”

According to Sergei Kilin, science is the key factor in space exploration. A government program on science-intensive technologies and equipment in 2016-2020 is in progress in Belarus. The subprogram on peaceful uses and exploration of outer space is part of the program. A satellite for the remote sensing of Earth with the spatial resolution of better than 1 meter is being created as part of the subprogram using domestic R&D accomplishments.

Sergei Kilin stressed that progress is determined by the advance of information technologies to a large degree in the modern world. The Digital Economy Development Ordinance has enabled conditions for introducing blockchain technologies in Belarus. A number of preferences have been made available. Measures have been taken to improve the legal protection of the parties using modern financial information technologies, said the official. Sergei Kilin invited all the interested parties to use the new opportunities for implementing breakthrough investment projects in Belarus in the area of peaceful uses of outer space.

In his speech Sergei Kilin also pointed out that Minsk will host the 31^st planetary congress of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) on 9-15 September 2018. Over 100 cosmonauts and astronauts from all over the world will take part in the event.

The celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space began in Vienna on 18 June. Representatives of more than 60 countries are taking part in it.

The organizers believe that UNISPACE+50 will help expand cooperation between nations in priority areas. The number includes global partnership in the area of space exploration and innovations, more vigorous exchange of information about objects and events in outer space, the expansion of space cooperation in the interests of global healthcare.

According to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, at present over 60 countries use their own satellites. Meanwhile, the world grows more and more dependent on more than 1,000 satellites orbiting Earth. About $100 billion was spent on space industry in the time of UNISPACE+3. Since then the figure has been only rising. In 2015 private and public companies operating at the national, regional, and global levels contributed $323 billion to the global economy. In view of the growing prominence of the space industry more attention is now paid to principles of control of the world space industry, its safety and stability.