Press releases

MINSK, 11 August (BelTA) – Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky is expected to attend the 31^st Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers, which is due in Belarus in September 2018, BelTA learned from the press service of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB).

On 11 August the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus played host to a meeting between Chairman of the NASB Presidium Vladimir Gusakov and cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky. The talks highlighted Belarus’ preparations to the 31^st Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers and also the participation of Russian cosmonauts in the forum. “We attach utmost importance to the organization of the congress in Belarus, the congress which is going to gather representatives of dozens of countries. The event will play a significant role in strengthening the image of Belarus as a space country,” Vladimir Gusakov stressed. Oleg Novitsky promised to take part in the international forum.

The Chairman of the NASB Presidium got the cosmonaut familiar with Belarus’ achievements in the space. He stressed that with the launch of the Belarusian satellite jointly with Russia’s satellite Kanopus B No.1 on 22 July 2012 Belarus joined the world’s leading space states and got a chance to participate in international organizations and projects on the peaceful uses of outer space. At the 68^th session of UN General Assembly on 1 November 2013 Belarus was admitted to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

According to Vladimir Gusakov, Belarus and Russia have launched the development of a new high-resolution satellite vehicle D33.

Attending the meeting in the NASB was also Piotr Vityaz, Head of the Office of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and Sergei Zolotoi, Director of the R&D enterprise Geoinformation Systems of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, chief designer of the Belarusian system for the remote sensing of Earth.

Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky was also showed an exposition of the Museum of the History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and a permanent exhibition about the achievements of the national science.

The Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers, which is due in Belarus in September 2018, will gather representatives from more than 30 countries. The delegates will be invited to visit a number of NASB institutes and get familiar with the Belarusian space achievements. The Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers gathers outstanding astronauts and cosmonauts, representatives of R&D centers, national space agencies on an annual basis.

The Association of Space Explorers 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.