On April 11, 2023, a press conference dedicated to the World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day was held at the National Press Center of the Republic of Belarus.
Speakers from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus at the event were: Alexander G. Shumilin, Academic Secretary of the Department of Physics, Mathematics and Informatics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; Pyotr A. Vityaz, Head of the Department of Space Activities of the Apparatus of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Deputy Head of the Agency for Space Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Academician and Igor B. Strashko, Deputy Director for the Production of the Unitary Enterprise Geoinformational Systems of the NAS of Belarus. The participants of the press event told about the achievements of Belarus in the space industry.
"Belarus has always taken an active part in space research. In 2004, by Presidential Decree, the NAS of Belarus was entrusted with the implementation of a unified state policy, coordination and regulation of activities in the field of research and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. In 2012, we became a space power by launching our first spacecraft. In 2018, another satellite was launched, which was designed and developed by students," said Academic Secretary of the Department of Physics, Mathematics and Informatics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Alexander Shumilin. According to Alexander Shumilin, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has already developed a scientific program for the Belarusian cosmonaut-researcher. "The program of scientific research of manned flight is being worked out," Shumilin said. It is expected that the Belarusian cosmonaut will conduct tests and research of the Belarusian equipment SOVA (OWL). As Shumilin noted, the installation is already on the ISS, and when sending its cosmonaut, the Belarusian side is interested in him using the equipment that is designed and manufactured in Belarus. "The equipment is designed for observing the Earth from space, including for exploring the upper layers of the atmosphere," Alexander Shumilin added.
As noted by the Head of the Department of Space Activities of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Deputy Head of the Agency for Space Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Academician Pyotr Vityaz, as part of the work on this spacecraft, meetings of working groups with the participation of specialists from the two countries are systematically held.
The preliminary design of the new Russian-Belarusian satellite has been fully completed, said Igor Strashko, Deputy Director for Production of the Unitary Enterprise Geoinformation Systems of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The work on the creation of a Russian-Belarusian remote sensing spacecraft with a spatial resolution of 0.35 m is taking place as part of the implementation of the decision taken by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. According to the totality of its characteristics, the spacecraft being created is one of the most promising solutions in the world. "A Russian-Belarusian space system is being created. To date, the preliminary design has been fully completed," Igor Strashko said. Also, according to him, the issues of cooperation between Russian-Belarusian enterprises that produce target equipment and the ground segment, including software, have been resolved. "A schedule for the creation of the system has been agreed," Strashko added. According to preliminary data, the launch of the spacecraft is scheduled for 2028.
