The Belarusian Institute Of System Analysis And Informational Support Of Scientific And Technical Sphere

Belarus and Russia are implementing joint programs: what to expect in the field of space
Document address: http://www.belisa.org.by/en/news/a125530aa83a60eb.html

14.04.2025

Belarus is one of the space powers. Over the past decades, the country has achieved significant success. The Belarusian Earth Remote Sensing Spacecraft, the Belintersat-1 communications satellite, and the BSU educational nanosatellites operate in near-Earth orbit. Domestic space science is developing rapidly — from optics to materials science. In 2024, a particularly significant event took place for the development of our country as a space power — the first Belarusian female cosmonaut, Marina Vasilevskaya, flew to the ISS. Belarus is developing the space sector in close cooperation with Russia. What the two countries plan to achieve through joint programs was told by Tatyana Stolyarova, Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee on Science and Technology, in an interview with a BELTA correspondent on the occasion of World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day.

— How is the space industry developing in Belarus, how can we assess our prospects?

— Space activities are an area where the most advanced achievements of scientific and technological progress are concentrated. It acts as a driving force for the development of information and communication technologies, microelectronics, mechanical engineering, medicine, agriculture, and promotes the training of highly qualified personnel for high-tech areas. In accordance with the state scientific and technical program "Micro— and Nanoelectronics Industry" implemented in 2021-2025, in 2025 the release of newly developed products is ensured for 7 tasks, the results of which are used, among other things, in space conditions.

In Belarus, scientific and design organizations, specialized production facilities have been created, new plants have been built and, most importantly, scientific schools and unique teams have been formed to develop the industry. The results of the activities of organizations involved in the space industry indicate that their scientific and technological potential has not only been preserved, but also increased. High-precision optical-electronic equipment, modern microprocessor technology, integrated circuits, testing equipment and much more are produced.

The space industry in our country is developing in close cooperation with Russia, mainly according to scientific and technical programs of the Union State. Since 1999, eight such programs have already been implemented. Thanks to close cooperation, it was possible to create a space group of satellites and the corresponding infrastructure.

The information obtained from remote sensing of the Earth is used in our countries to prevent and eliminate the consequences of emergency situations, design and build roads, update land information systems, in law enforcement, environmental protection and other areas.

— What allied space programs are currently being implemented? How will they help in creating new satellites?

— In 2024, the results of the implementation of the eighth scientific and technical program of the Union State "Integration-SG" were summarized. Its goal was to increase the efficiency of processing Earth remote sensing data and provide the results to users in Belarus and Russia. The implementation of the results of the program will ensure a sustainable trend in terms of integrating regulatory and technical requirements for the regulation of space data circulation in Russia and Belarus, and will expand the possibilities of using integrated technologies for providing consumers with information received from the Russian and Belarusian Earth remote sensing groups. The results obtained will help solve the problem of mass consumer access to inexpensive space information of the required quality and volume.

Currently, the transition to small-sized spacecraft for remote sensing of the Earth is one of the urgent tasks in the space sector. A small-sized device weighs significantly less and makes it possible to launch not one device into orbit, but three or four satellites in one launch.

In 2025, the implementation of the Union State space scientific and technical program "Complex-SG" continues. It is a continuation of the already implemented space projects of the Union State and is aimed at developing the basic elements of orbital and ground-based facilities in the interests of creating multi-satellite groups of small-sized spacecraft for observing the earth's surface and near-earth space.

The implementation of the Complex-SG program will allow us to ensure development in the field of instrument making related to the creation of small satellites, as well as to produce high-tech products on our territory and to train personnel for the space industry.

With the help of satellites, for example, we will be able to obtain more complete and up-to-date information about temperature anomalies, forest fires, including those approaching the border of our country. This will help the Emergencies Ministry units stop fires with minimal losses. No less important is the fact that space observation of agricultural lands will help improve the quality of crop yield forecasts, and geological formations will help improve the efficiency of mineral exploration.

— What will be the next allied space programs, what results are planned to be achieved?

— Our scientists are not resting on their laurels. New projects of the Union State programs in the field of space are being developed. For example, within the framework of the Resurs-SG program being developed, it is planned to create new structural materials for small-sized spacecraft that can increase the active service life of satellites by almost two times. Thanks to this program, it is planned to increase the standard service life of a satellite to 10 years (currently it is 5 years).

Another important topic discussed in the world community is space debris. Currently, the program "Trassa" is being developed, which intersects with this topic. It will provide the ability to assess the presence of a large number of objects in near-Earth space and track their movement. As a result, we will be able to track objects and predict a solution to the space debris issue.

— What prospects in the space sector does cooperation with Russia open up for Belarus?

— The importance and necessity of developing the space industry is also evidenced by the fact that in 2021 the first prizes of the Union State in the field of science and technology were awarded to two joint author teams from Belarus and Russia specifically on space topics. Namely, for the creation of the Belarusian space system for remote sensing of the Earth and the Russian-Belarusian orbital group of satellites, for the development of highly effective electromagnetic protection systems, as well as a new generation of sensors for space devices.

In addition, I would like to note that the country has defined priority areas of scientific, scientific-technical and innovative activities for 2026-2030. For the next five-year period, the decree of the Head of State has defined, among other things, the priority area of ​​"space and aviation technologies". This indicates great prospects for the development of the high-tech and science-intensive space industry.

Belarus and Russia jointly coordinate activities on promising vectors of interaction more effectively, find optimal and verified solutions on a number of issues, including the development of space activities. The existing competencies in the scientific and technical sphere in our countries contribute to the strengthening of our cooperative ties.

Source: belta.by