European Space Agency, ROSCOSMOS discuss Europe’s participation in Russian lunar projects

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation (ROSCOSMOS) hold the talks about Europe’s participation in Russian projects for lunar studies, Rene Pichel, ESA representative in Russia, told reporters at the MAKS 2013 air show. Pichel said cooperation with Russia [in lunar projects] will be discussed next year by a meeting of the council of the heads of the space agencies included in ESA. The participation of ESA in these projects will be moderate at first, to expand later, Pichel said. If the agency’s council endorses the decision on ESA participation in Russian lunar missions, the two space agencies will sign a cooperation agreement, he said.