MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax-AVN) - Development of space navigation is an unconditional priority in the activity of the Russian Space Troops, Commander of the Space Troops Anatoly Perminov told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
"The market of space services is huge. That is why development of domestic space navigation gets special attention at the highest state level, and a related federal purpose- oriented program has been elaborated and launched," Perminov said.
Each plane and vessel on international routes must be fitted with a satellite navigation signal receiver. At the same time, there are only two global satellite navigation systems - Navstar of the United States and GLONASS of Russia, the commander stressed.
The next important goal is remote probing of Earth, Perminov said.
"It is a profitable investment even though expenses on creation space systems for map-making and exploration of minerals are sizeable. The market is developing dynamically, the number of countries willing to have their own system of Earth's remote probing is growing. At the same time, it is necessary to realize that the line between space intelligence and Earth's remote probing is quite artificial. That is why information from remote probing systems is often used in the interests of defense and security, and vise versa," the commander noted.
Communication is the third strategic sphere of the Space Troops' activity. "One example will be enough - broadcasting of TV programs to Siberia and the Far East is out of the question without the domestic space communication and broadcast satellite grouping," Perminov stressed.
Launch assets are the fourth priority. "As I have said, there is an increase in the number of countries willing to get and getting their own satellites. However they must be put in orbit. Russia is one of the few countries that have capabilities for it," the commander said.
Other spheres of space activity related to economy and army development are also of great importance, he added.
The Russian Space Troops have effected 12 space rocket launches on their own and supported seven launches of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency in 2002, putting in orbit a total of 21 spacecraft, Perminov told a session of the troops' council on Thursday. In addition, the troops have launched successfully two intercontinental ballistic missiles and an interceptor missile, he said.