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MINSK, 10 September (BelTA) - Belarus is set to take part in international Moon exploration projects, First Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Sergei Chizhik told the media at the 31st planetary congress of the Association of Space Explorers in Minsk on 10 September, BelTA has learned.

"I think that we will see interesting ideas for cooperation emerge today. We are waiting for an invitation to participate in a number of projects. Many ideas can be implemented. We will cooperate with the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The idea of our participation in the project has already been suggested. I think Belarus will find its place there. We have experience, highly-qualified specialists. I would even like us to start preparing our cosmonaut for science experiments in orbit. We have also discussed this issue," Sergei Chizhik said.

He emphasized that famous people from different countries came to the congress in Belarus: cosmonauts, astronauts, taikonauts. "They will see our country. We will have a chance to talk to them. This is an opportunity for us to enter the space elite in the future. We are already among space-faring nations. This is one more step towards reaching a higher level, " the first deputy chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus said.

"Space is a complex, high-tech industry that brings together physics, optics, new materials. Biotechnology is also important. In space, under conditions of weightlessness, cells develop in a different way. This is the factor that can stimulate cellular processes and influence microorganisms. Geographic information systems provide us with data about the Earth, climate change, the territory configuration. This information is in demand. It is used by such departments as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, the land registry office," Sergei Chizhik said.

The 31st planetary congress of the Association of Space Explorers is running in Minsk on 9-15 September. The ASE is an international not-for-profit organization that unites cosmonauts and astronauts from many countries. It was established in 1985 to share the best practices in the area of manned space flights. The planetary congress of the Association of Space Explorers gathers cosmonauts and representatives of scientific research institutions and national space agencies on an annual basis.