| Беларускае касмічнае агенцтва (be) Белорусское космическое агентство (ru) | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | BSA |
| Formed | 2009 |
| Type | Space agency |
Belarus Space Agency (Belarusian:Беларускае касмічнае агенцтваBielaruskaje kasmičnaje ahienctva,Russian:Белорусское космическое агентство), officially known asNational Agency for Space Research (Belarusian:Нацыянальнае агенцтва па касмічным даследаванням,romanized: Natsyyanal'naye ahentstva pa kasmichnym dasledavannyam;Russian:Национальное агентство по космическим исследованиям,romanized: Natsionalnoye agentstvo po kosmicheskim issledovaniyam) is a governmental body that coordinates allBelarus space research programs with scientific and commercial goals. It was established in 2009.[1] It is closely associated with theNational Academy of Sciences of Belarus, which was responsible for Belarusian space travel until the foundation of the Belarus Space Agency.
On May 21, 2015, the agency remained as part of theNational Academy of Sciences of Belarus but changed its name to National Agency for Space Researches.
The only Belarusians who have travelled to space arePyotr Klimuk,Vladimir Kovalyonok,Oleg Novitsky, andMaryna Vasileuskaya. Since the dissolution of theSoviet Union Klimuk, Kovalyonok, and Novitsky have represented Russia during their missions.
Belarus together with Russia,Ukraine andKazakhstan are making joint efforts to adapt their existing geoinformation systems to particular applications. However, no formal agreements on cooperationin the development of commonGeographic information system are in place.[2]
Belarus commenced the construction of a mission control station (MCC) as part of its long-termspace program aimed at expanding cooperation withRoscosmos. This MCC will enablethe country to make fuller use of a prospective group of Russian-Belarusian ERS satellites.[3] Belarus, in partnership with Roscosmos, is developing a new high-resolution ERS satellite, theso-called “flying telescope”, which will be placed into orbit in 2015.[4]
Having ample infrastructure and qualified personnel at its disposal, Russia remains the main provider of ERS services to otherCIS countries like Belarus.[5] A Belarusian ERS satellite is being designed in partnership with Russian companies. It will be launched byCosmotrans fromBaikonur usingDnepr boosters.[6]
Negotiations were held between the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and Roscosmos over Belarus joining GLONASS.
In Belarus, space activities were the domain of theNational Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The main space activities of the academy were:
Belarus plans to set up own Flight Control Center in the building of the United Institute of Informatics Problems inMinsk. Flight Control Center (CUP) will receive the information from the command-measuring post now constructed inLogoisk district.[9]
In August 2012 Belarus invited China to expand the collaboration in space industry. President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko offered closer cooperation in the space industry to China, as he met with President of theChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)Ma Xingrui on 6. August 2012. The President of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Ma Xingrui also pointed to the high level of cooperation in the space industry between Belarus and China and praised the quality of Belarusian space equipment.[10]
On December 16, 2011, during a seminar of government officials, PresidentAlexander Lukashenko instructed the Belarusian scientists to construct the world's best spacecraft.[11]
In August 2012 Belarus started its first remote Earth sensing system.[12] The first space images pictured parts ofMozambique andBahrain.[13]
In October 2012 Russia and Belarus declared to start a space satellite group.[14] Additionally both states want to open a center for space services inMinsk. The Director of the Space Strategy and Program Department of Roscosmos Yuri Makarov noted that Belarus and Russia might develop a joint small spacecraft for scientific and educational purposes to be used at universities of the two countries.[15]
In August 2014 Piotr Vityaz, who is the Chief of Staff of theNational Academy of Sciences of Belarus and leads the Belarus Space Agency, announced that Belarus is seeking a closer cooperation in space projects with Russia'sRoscosmos Space Agency.[16]
In August 2018, Belarusian Education MinisterIgor Karpenko announced that China has won a tender to insert into orbit a satellite made by students of theBelarusian State University.[17]
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