Russia, France should develop space sector cooperation - Glavcosmos head
MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian space sector enterprises should exchange experience with similar companies in Europe to advance the entire industry, said Dmitry Loskutov, the head of Glavcosmos, a Russian launch services provider.
"It is obvious that without both financial and technological international integration, it is hardly possible today to make progress in space exploration and achieve ambitious goals. European enterprises in the sector have significant experience, and sharing this experience will doubtless benefit bilateral cooperation between Russia and France," the company's press service quoted Loskutov as saying.
Glavcosmos, as the coordinator of Roscosmos's foreign economic activity, will continue this work, he said.
Loskutov made this statement after a business mission of Russian aerospace sector officials to France.
The mission visited French space sector enterprises in the Paris area, Toulouse, and Cannes. The sides also held talks on ways to promote Russian-French cooperation in space exploration.
The delegation visited the Ariane Group's assembly plant in Mureaux, the Airbus DS company's assembly and test complex, the satellite-data-processing center of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES), Nexeya's assembly unit in Toulouse, and the assembly plant of Thales Alenia Space in Nice. The delegation also attended a business seminar organized by the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS).