Lukashenko proposed Russia to send another Belarusian cosmonaut into space
During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 11th, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed Russia to send another Belarusian cosmonaut into space, BelTA reports
During the meeting, the Head of State thanked Vladimir Putin for supporting Belarus in sending its first cosmonaut to the ISS, “It is clear that if it had not been for your decision then, there would have been no flight. We then agreed that a Belarusian woman should fly. We chose six ladies out of more than two thousand, and then only two of them were left: the main cosmonaut and the understudy. We have awarded her today [April 11th], and – in the same way as in Russia [cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky is a Hero of Russia] – she has become a Hero of Belarus," the President said.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Roscosmos has declared its readiness to work with Belarus on the development of a full-fledged space programme. "We want to launch a new satellite with the resolution of 25 centimetres into orbit together with Russians, and it will be a serious declaration. We are working on it, and there is no doubt that we will implement our plans. We will work together also in the issues dealing with cosmonauts. We are ready to join your programme, there is no need for a separate Belarusian one,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
"We will work together," Vladimir Putin promised.
"You have made significant progress. We have people, including women, ready to fly, and there is no objection on the part of Roscosmos. If you support, then [we are ready to send] the second lady who was an understudy into space. She is prepared, much money has been spent to prepare her. If there is a desire and your will in this regard, she is ready to continue working and training with cosmonauts," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
