Russia defines rights of Roskosmos representative operating in Kazakhstan as part of Russia’s Embassy

Roskosmos (Russia’s National Space Agency) representative within Russia’s Embassy in Kazakhstan will be vested with rights to study Kazakhstan’s programs of space cooperation with other nations , Newskaz.ru reports, citing Russia’s RIA Novosti. “The representative shall be monitoring contractual obligations pertaining to the Kazakhstan-based Baikonur cosmodrome leased out to Russia; he shall thoroughly study Kazakhstan’s plans and actual programs of space cooperation with other nations and report to Roskosmos on Kazakhstan’s space industry development”, the draft regulations read. Besides, the representative shall be facilitating visits of Roskosmos delegations, encouraging commercial space projects, gathering information on Russia’s foreign trade players operating in Kazakhstan in space-related projects. Baikonur is closer to the Equator than other launch sites – a situation that facilitates geostationary orbit or orbits less inclined to reach the International Space Station (ISS). This privileged geographic placement enables the launch of more significant payloads. The cosmodrome has been rented out since 1994. Annual rent stands at $115 million. The town accommodates over 70 000 people, with 37% being Russia’s citizens. About 4 000 Russia’s citizens are here almost permanently on business trips to facilitate space launches. The town budget receives over 1 billion roubles a year from the Russian federal budget. Russia’s Roskosmos Federal Space Agency spent over $33.3 million in 2012 to maintain infrastructure and space facilities at the Kazakhstan-based Baikonur cosmodrome, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported February 1, 2013, citing Yuzhny Space Center Evgeniy Anissimov as saying.