MOSCOW. April 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency are developing the launch system for the Russian Soyuz-ST carrier rocket at the EAS space center in French Guiana and discussing prospects of implementing other projects, ESA chief Jean-Jacques Dordain said on Thursday.
"We are beginning to cooperate in development of future carrier rockets. The first project is Soyuz-at-GSC (Guiana Space Center - Interfax-AVN). Then we will work on technologies for future carrier rockets," Dordain told reporters after talks with Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Viktor Khristenko.
The cooperation in this field has two goals, he said. "First, we ensure functioning of Russian and European industry, and second, we jointly develop the best carrier rocket scheme," he noted.
In response to a question from Interfax-Military News Agency, Dordain said that the Angara or another carrier rocket might be chosen. The main thing is that the parties are working together, he stressed.
The cost of the Soyuz-at-GSC project amounts to about EUR344m, Dordain said. As to other joint projects, it is too early to determine their cost. However the most important thing is that the parties agreed on setting up a joint working group which will draft proposals regarding all promising programs, he said.
Dordain stressed that the Russian and European space agencies are establishing closer relations. ESA is considering the best form of interaction with Russia, he said. A new form of Russia's participation in ESA projects is to be worked out by the end of the year, he noted.
Speaking about ESA astronaut flights to the International Space Station (ISA), Dordain said that talks are underway with the Russian Federal Space Agency on arranging both long-term and short-term flights. Two flights of this kind are planned at the moment. It is not yet clear which country will send its representative to space, as this will be determined at the end of the talks. Dordain did not rule out that one of such flights can have a long term.
The ESA chief said that the Russian Federal Space Agency is providing comprehensive assistance in arranging astronaut flights to the ISS.