Russia Endorses Deal on Space Cooperation with Cuba

Russia Endorses Deal on Space Cooperation with Cuba

© RIA Novosti. Sergei Kazak

11:59 13/05/2014



MOSCOW, May 13 (RIA Novosti) – A commission on legislative drafting has

approved the ratification of an agreement with Cuba on cooperation in

research and cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, the

Russian government website said on Tuesday.

"This is a framework agreement, defining necessary principles, norms and

conditions for developing bilateral relations in the sphere of space

activity, including in protection of intellectual property rights,

information exchange and data protection," the government said in a

statement.

The commission says the agreement is in the best interests of Russia,

including the installation of Russia's Global Navigation Satellite

System (GLONASS) on the territory of the Republic of Cuba. The document

will be considered at government session.

The Global Navigation Satellite System, which began operation in 1993,

is a Russian equivalent of the US Global Positioning System (GPS). The

GLONASS network provides real-time positioning and speed data for

surface, sea and airborne objects. Its accuracy is expected to be

boosted to one meter (three feet) when used within Russia by the end of

the year.

By 2020, Glonass should reach a global positioning accuracy of 60 cm.

The Cabinet of Ministers said the agreement with Cuba needs to be

ratified as it contains "other rules" than those defined by the

country's legislation.

The first overseas GLONASS ground station for differential correction

and monitoring was launched in Brazil in February 2013.

Russia plans to build 50 GLONASS stations in several dozen countries

across the world.

Last week, the Russian government approved bills to ratify space

cooperation agreements with Nicaragua and Vietnam, which, among other

things envisage the construction of ground stations for GLONASS.



Source: Russia Endorses Deal on Space Cooperation with Cuba | Russia |

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