High-level exchange at Europe-Russia space workshop

Over
300 representatives from more than a dozen countries met for a
workshop entitled ‘Europe-Russia co-operation in the space
sector’ from 22-24 January 2003. The event, held at the
Russian
Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) headquarters in
Moscow, was a joint initiative of the European
Commission (EC), the European
Space Agency (ESA) and Rosaviakosmos and featured high-level
presentations of historic successes, ongoing partnerships and
future prospects for collaboration in space.

In his opening address, Rosaviakosmos Director General Yuri
Koptev said, “I am happy to welcome all of
you to this truly important event. We are looking forward to a
frank and constructive exchange between Russia and the United
Europe. But of course this will not be the first time we have
come together. The history of co-operation between Russia and
Europe began in 1971 and includes a long list of successful collaborations.
More recently, during a period of political and economic transition,
Russia has maintained its interest in space while co-operation
with Europe has become a priority.”

A common vision

Recent decisions by the Russian government have established a
clear set of priorities for the Russian space programme. According
to Koptev, they include, satellite navigation, global monitoring,
telecommunications, manned space flight, and launcher technologies,
a list which is very much in line with the priorities set out
for Europe under the new 6th
Framework Programme (FP6). Under the Aeronautics and Space
thematic priority, FP6 highlights satellite
navigation (GALILEO), global
monitoring (GMES) and satellite
telecommunications as key research priorities (see Work
Programme). “Ours
is a great responsibility and a great challenge,” said Koptev.
“We are balanced on the leading edge of technological achievement
and we carry out work which is at the same time highly dangerous
to those who undertake it and of great importance to all of mankind.”

Speaking for the European Commission, Director for Aeronautics
and Space Research Jack Metthey said,
“The political context has never been more favourable to
broadened co-operation between Europe and the Russian Federation.
On the one hand we have the ongoing enlargement process, which
will bring new countries into Europe, including many with strong
former ties to Russia, and on the other we have a new Framework
Programme that recognises for the first time the strategic importance
of space research. It is crucial to note here that Russia can
now participate as a full and equal partner under FP6. This is
truly a breakthrough. A new door has been opened.”

In
his opening remarks, ESA Director General Antonio
Rodotà said, “We have seen an impressive
list of historic co-operative efforts between Europe and Russia
in space. This work has already resulted in enormous benefits
to both sides and we are very pleased to see the European Commission
now getting involved. The question is how best to use the new
resources it is making available, and that means getting together
with our partners and setting our goals and priorities.”

Information and insight

Day
one of the workshop featured a number of highly informative presentations
by both European and Russian delegates. Representing the Russian
Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Fortov confirmed the experience
and commitment of Russian academia to international co-operation
in space while Nikolai Anfimov of Rosaviakosmos outlined areas
of possible overlap between European and Russian interests in
space research. The EC’s Luc Tytgat provided an in-depth
look at the FP6 Space priority followed by ESA representatives
who presented the current status of the priority European space
programmes – GALILEO, GMES and satellite telecommunications.

The first Italian astronaut, Franco Malerba, provided a personal
vision of the meaning of international co-operation in space,
as a European who flew on the American space shuttle Atlantis
in 1992. “Space is truly man’s final frontier. Like
all of us, I was inspired as a child by the exploits of the great
Russians, Gagarin, Leonov, and many ohers. Given Russia’s
long experience in space, it makes sense for Europe to link hands
with her now. Of course, industrial and scientific co-operation
across international borders is a complex issue, but ESA has already
demonstrated its ability to cross old boundaries.”

European industry was represented by Joël Barré of
Snecma,
a French group co-operating actively with Russia since 1991. Hélène
Burlakoff presented an interesting overview of the work of INTAS,
the International Association for the Promotion of Co-operation
with Scientists from New Independent States of the former Soviet
Union. Since 1992, INTAS has provided around €165 million
to 2555 high-level projects. Finally, Didier Gambier discussed
ISTC, the International Science & Technology Center, which
promotes the nonproliferation of weapons technology of mass destruction.
“Our aim is to help scientists formerly engaged in defense
research to redirect their efforts towards civil applications,”
he explained.

Technical sessions

The remainder of the conference was largely devoted to the thematic
sessions, focussing on specific areas of research and featuring
presentations and discussions of leading edge technologies. At
the closing sessions, the individual session moderators presented
their results. Themes included the three main space priorities
under FP6: