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Russians May Help China Put Person Into Space
By Anatoly Zak
Staff Writer
posted: 10:10 am ET
18 October 1999
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china_russia991018For the second time in recent months, a high-ranking Russian official confirmed the possibility that his nation will help China develop its ability to launch people into space. "Russia is sufficiently open and is capable and ready to assist projects that do not threaten its national security," said Russian Presidential aide Marshal Yevgeny Shaposhnikov in an interview Monday with Interfax. Russian Aerospace Agency General Director Yuri Koptev told Interfax that Russia's support for the Chinese space mission should be considered along with a general expansion of cooperation between the two nations. Corresponding proposals are now being discussed, Koptev said. A representative of the Russian Space Agency interviewed by space.com on Monday could not immediately comment on Koptevs statement. Space cooperation between Russia and China was first disclosed by Koptev and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov at an August meeting in China. Most observers agree that the Chinese space program borrows heavily from Russian space technology. Several photos posted on the Internet, reportedly showing the first Chinese launch vehicle for astronauts, reveal payload firing and emergency escape system almost identical to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. There were also reports that China is developing a space station somewhat similar to the core module of the Mir orbital lab. China is planning the launch at the beginning of next year. Currently, only Russia and the United States have the full capability to put people in space.
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