Russia and Israel sign space agreement

MOSCOW - Russia and Israel on Sunday signed an agreement on cooperation on space technology and space exploration, the Russian space agency said in a statement.

The agreement aims to develop cooperation in "joint activities linked to research and the use of space and the application of space technologies for peaceful aims," the statement issued by Roskosmos agency said.


Russian spacecraft have already launched five Israeli satellites and Russia is now preparing an Amos-5 communications satellite for Israel, the statement said, citing Roskosmos chief Anatoly Perminov.

The agreement was signed by Perminov and the Israel space agency director Zvi Kaplan.

Israel in January signed an agreement with the European Space Agency for cooperation on space technology and exploration of the solar system.



(c) 2011 AFP