MOSCOW. Dec 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The number of countries participating in manned space programs in the International Space Station framework might be increased, Russian Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov said on Wednesday.
"I have come up with the proposal to increase the number of countries participating in manned projects in the ISS framework," Perminov told reporters.
He named India and Kazakhstan among possible participants, as both countries display interest in manned space programs.
According to Perminov, the proposal will be adopted if each of the five partners participating in the ISS program, namely Europe, Canada, Russia, the U.S., and Japan, approves it.
"Unfortunately, if somebody is against it, the decision is blocked," he said.
Perminov also said that he has proposed changing this mode of decision-making in the ISS framework.
"The first reaction of our partners concerning India is positive, but words cannot be put on paper, and no documents have been signed on this issue," he stressed.
According to him, the issue should be discussed in the Netherlands in January 2005. Representatives of all nations participating in the ISS program will gather for a meeting there.