Saudi Arabia and Ukraine have signed an agreement to cooperate in peaceful space exploration, the website of the Space Agency of Ukraine said on Saturday.
The agreement was signed between President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel and Director General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine Yuriy Alekseyev. The agreement stipulates that Saudi Arabian and Ukrainian scientists will cooperate in fundamental space research and a range of applied sciences, particularly geophysics.
The agreement offers broad opportunities for scientists from the both countries to hold joint symposiums and conferences, and share the results of experiments.
Saudi Arabia "has obtained substantial success in space exploration over the last years," and Ukraine appreciates prospects of scientific cooperation with Saudi Arabian scientists, Alekseyev said.
related report
China launching spacecraft at record rate
China put a navigation satellite in orbit in the 12th space launch of the year, eclipsing its own record for most space missions in a year, authorities said.
The launch Sunday of a Long March rocket broke the country's record of 11 launches of human, scientific and military missions China set in 2008, SPACE.com reported.
In addition to navigation satellites, China has launched three military reconnaissance satellites, a mapping satellite, a broadcasting satellite and its Chang 2 moon probe.
The record for this year could reach 15 as China plans three more launches by the end of December.
A weather satellite set for launch this month could be followed by another communications satellite and a navigation satellite before the end of the year, SPACE.com said.
The record launch rate comes as NASA and China open a joint dialogue on potential space cooperation inaugurated by NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden's visit to China last month.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
