MOSCOW, November 16 -- The GLONASS global navigation system will become fully operational by the year 2007.

"GLONASS will be fully restored by 2007," Federal Space Agency head Anatoly Perminov told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

The president ordered to restore the GLONASS system by 2007 during a visit to the Baikonur spaceport this June.

It is necessary to launch 18 satellites for restoring the GLONASS system, Perminov said. He said the federal GLONASS program is being successful.

The government has considered a draft resolution on the industrial facilities to design new strategic rocket systems, Perminov said.

In addition, the government approved a federal space program for 2006-2015 on October 22. Perminov hopes that the government will approve a program of the development of Russian spaceports, as well. "The program is under consideration, and I am sure it will be approved," he said.

The government assigned additional funds for the International Space Station (ISS) and GLONASS this year, Perminov said.

Five Russian and 12 foreign satellites have been launched from Baikonur since Putin?s visit, he said. Russia has 38 economic and scientific satellites in orbit nowadays, he said.
sections: Region News, Hi-Tech
areas: Central region