MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - The Federation Council on Wednesday approved a package of bills proposed by the president on the establishment of the Roscosmos state corporation.
Deputy head of the Federation Council Economic Committee Senator Sergei Shatirov told journalists that the bill stipulates the establishment of Roscosmos, a state corporation for space activities.
"It will be a nonprofit entity having the functions of the authority managing the space sector on behalf of the Russian Federation. The state corporation will also have the right to license activities related to space. The corporation will be managed by a supervisory council, executive board and general director," Shatirov said.
The key objectives of Roscosmos' operations will be connected with the implementation of state policy in space activities and the development of space equipment for military, dual, scientific and socioeconomic purposes, including strategic missile systems.
"The corporation will use and promote the development of the GLONASS global satellite navigation system in the interests of special and civilian users, including commercial," the senator said.
The bills expand Russia's international cooperation in the use of satellite navigation systems as well as international activities to study and use outer space and to perform the functions of the general coordinator of the work conducted at the Baikonur and Vostochny cosmodromes.
"The terms of reference of the corporation also include the selection and training of cosmonauts and the running of R&D projects connected with human space flights. The law defines the key powers and functions of the state corporation, the composition of its property, the functions and responsibilities of the state corporation in training cosmonauts," Shatirov said.
The bill also prescribes that the state corporation will have the powers of a public contracting authority and coordinator of procurements, responsible for the implementation of the state program of armaments, presidential programs, the Federal Space Program, interstate and federal targeted programs, the state defense contract, the federal investment program, programs of the Union State and international cooperation in space activities.