Might Russia join the European Space Agency(ESA)?

Posted on: May. 19th, 2004 || Source: nature.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Russian and European space officials are discussing the possibility of Russia joining the 15-member European Space Agency (ESA) - a move that would put ESA on a par with NASA in terms of spaceflight experience and access to orbit.



Although no formal offer has been tendered, a flurry of meetings and public statements in the past few months suggest that both sides are exploring the idea. At the Berlin Air Show last week, the new head of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (PKA), Anatoly Perminov, told the Russian news agency Itar-Tass that he supports a merger in principle, but that Russia would want full membership of ESA. Perminov, who formerly headed the Russian military space programme, said he has been discussing the details with Jean-Jacques Dordain, who took over as director-general of ESA last July.

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