MINSK, 26 April (BelTA) – The experiments the Belarusian cosmonaut Marina Vasilevskaya was supposed to carry out at the International Space Station (ISS) have been fulfilled with a high degree of quality. Deputy Head of the Aerospace Activities Department of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Ivan Bucha made the statement before young Belarusians met with the Belarusian cosmonauts Marina Vasilevskaya and Anastasia Lenkova, BelTA has learned.
Ivan Bucha said: “All the scientific studies, which were supposed to take place at the International Space Station in the form of Marina Vasilevskaya’s scientific experiments, have been fulfilled with a high degree of quality. The results have to be evaluated by the Belarusian and Russian scientists, who wanted these experiments carried out. Both Belarusians and Russians took part in the organization of these experiments.”
The official noted that the evaluation of these results needs some time. Perspectives will be understandable then. “Marina has managed to carry out all the experiments at the International Space Station. It is a fact,” he added.
Asked when the next Belarusian cosmonaut might fly into space, Ivan Bucha pointed out that it is necessary to do all the work in the final stage of the current project first. It is necessary to evaluate results, think about perspective, and then decide who and when will become the next cosmonaut. “It is quite a complicated matter. But taking into account the opinion of our president, who is in favor of continuing it, I think that it has to happen. It is too early to talk about when,” the deputy head of the Aerospace Activities Department explained.
As for how much time is needed to analyze results of the space experiments, the NASB representative noted that it is necessary to talk about it to the scientists, who had ordered these experiments. “They may sketch out preliminary, medium-term, and long-term prospects. They may outline in what manner it will be used in the future,” Ivan Bucha pointed out.
He is convinced that Marina Vasilevskaya’s space flight can be considered as yet another vital stage in Belarus’ development.
Speaking about prospects, Ivan Bucha remarked that the other Belarusian cosmonaut Anastasia Lenkova is a young scientist, doctor by education, and takes part in scientific activities. She has written a lot of scholarly articles. She continues education. Ivan Bucha is convinced that the knowledge acquired in the course of the space flight project and the very fact of participation in the project would definitely be used by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the scientific community as a whole for the sake of scientific development.
