Into Space with BRICS / Yana Grigoryeva

Yana Grigoryeva, Intern at the Russian National Committee on BRICS Research - special for InfoBRICS

Speaking about the potential of BRICS countries, the space component is often overlooked. In total, there are about 24 space agencies in the world, and they include all BRICs countries, except South Africa. But only 9 agencies are capable of producing the launch vehicles, include Russia, India and China. And only three states in the world carried out human spaceflight: Russia, China and the United States. Also, these countries had or still have their own orbital stations.

As we can see, the BRICS brings together not only members with high potential in the space industry, but also space leaders. Its total budget is comparable to the budget of the European Space Agency. But opportunities are even greater than the allocated funds. Having the same amount of money, the BRICS countries can achieve more than Europeans or even more Americans, based on the cost of work.

There are only six countries in the world that really participate in the race to the moon in XXI century, half of them are BRICs countries. Russia and China are planning the independent flights. India just wants to send an automatic station and a moon rover. In the future they are planning to have a joint manned space programs with some state.

Let's take a closer look at the space projects of the BRICS countries.

In March 2018, the Delegation of the Roscosmos Corporation representatives held talks with Brazilian colleagues in aspects to develop the cooperation in the field of space exploration. In addition, the Russian delegation visited the Alcantara launch Center in Brazil, where they got acquainted with the current condition of the equipment and infrastructure, as well as with the long-term plans of the Brazilian side for international cooperation. Following the visit, the parties signed up the protocol containing specific instructions and further steps for the development of joint cooperation.

In turn, the President of Brazil expressed interest in expanding the GLONASS network`s stations in the country. Now there are four stations of the Russian global system.

Meanwhile Russia and China signed up the program of cooperation in space for 2018-2022.The agreement is about cooperation in the field of rocket and engine building, Moon and Mars sensing, deep space exploration and other questions.

The Chinese delegation will negotiate with Roscosmos the establishment of a joint orbital station. The Chinese are planning to start the construction of a multi-module space station in the coming years, and they are interested in Russia's experience of long-term space flights and the construction of large space objects. The parties agreed on the need to sign up a specific bilateral Russian-Chinese agreement on cooperation in the field of earth remote sensing. In addition, the partners decided to conduct a joint experiment on the use of Russian and Chinese test sites to improve the quality of remote sensing data assessment of their spacecrafts. In addition, the parties stressed the high efficiency of cooperation in the preparation of the agreement in the field of satellite remote sensing of the Earth of the BRICS countries between the space agencies of the states.

In October 2018, Russia and India signed a Memorandum of cooperation on the manned space program and in the field of navigation systems. This document will help to strengthen relations between the countries and will be a good start for the development of technologies and advanced systems needed for human spaceflight.

Indian Prime Minister said that the country will send an Indian crew into space by 2022. The crew of India's first national spacecraft "Gaganyan" probably will pass initial training in India and advanced training in Russia. The preliminary date of the first Indian manned flight is already scheduled for December 2021.

In October 2014, the Minister of science and technology of South Africa has held a working meeting in Moscow with the Deputy head of Roscosmos, the conversation was about cooperation in outer space within the framework of BRICS and the "Radioastron" program. Radioastron is the first space astrophysical tool created by Russian specialists. Scientists believe that Radioastron will explore the Universe for at least another 10 years. In the future, we can talk about the receiving the data from the spacecraft "Radioastron" by South-Africans scientists.

By the end of 2020, Russia plans to mark out in South Africa opto-electronic stations, that will help to observe dangerous situations in space and prevent it. South Africa will also add to the current system opto-electronic complex for detecting and measuring the parameters of space debris movement. By the way, the first complex like this was placed in Brazil two years ago. Roscosmos planned to spend one and a half billion rubles until 2022 to support the work this program.

In general, now BRICS countries are on the way to create a group of earth remote sensing satellites. All the documents are already signed up between the Brazilian space Agency, the Roscosmos Corporation, the Indian space research organization, the Chinese national space administration and the South African national space Agency for the conclusion of an agreement on cooperation in the field of remote satellite sensing of the Earth of the BRICS countries.

A breakthrough comes in the international cooperation of the BRICS countries in such a complex and costly field- space industry. After all, BRICS has a lot of opportunities: huge intellectual resources, a powerful production base, unique technologies and even its own bank. BRICS can make a qualitative step in space exploration, comparable to the success of the USSR. Its going to be a long work on the creation of a joint group of remote sensing of the Earth. But in the future, it can be the basis for much more perspective projects. There is also exists an idea to create of the BRICs orbital station. Joining forces, technologies and goals is not an easy decision, but it is the only way that people can lean on for the guarantee of sustainable future.

Origin: http://infobrics.org/post/28560/