FSA chief invites civilian users to get information from military satellites

Anatoly Perminov, head of the Federal Space Agency, thinks that civilian users should be allowed to get high-resolution graphic and navigation information from Russian dual-purpose satellites. Perminov said this in a RIA Novosti interview.

"In my opinion, a 30-meter resolution for civilians is something funny", he noted.

According to him, this low degree of precision cannot attract state and private users. "I believe the matter should be promptly settled", the FSA head emphasized.

Meanwhile, Russian non-military state-owned and private organizations can unofficially receive graphic, navigation and cartographic information from foreign satellites with a resolution up to 2 meters.

"There is still no law allowing civilian organizations access to such information in Russian territory. But, anyone can buy from a specialized trading outlet a portable satellite navigator for about 200 dollars. It makes it possible almost anywhere in Russia to determine local coordinates with a precision up to a few metres using signals from foreign satellites", the Russian expert in satellite communication said.

Anatoly Perminov also thinks Russia should be more active in replenishing its dual-purpose group of satellites, such as craft of the GLONASS global navigation system "It's OK and we should follow the example of Americans, with almost 90% of their satellites having dual purpose", the head of the FSA agency noted.

Colonel-General Anatoly Perminov, 58, commander of the Russian Space Troops, has replaced Yuri Koptev, who was in charge of the Russian Space Agency Rosaviakosmos for 12 years until its conversion into the Federal Space Agency on March 9, 2004.

Under the jurisdiction of Rosaviakosmos were about 400 enterprises and research institutions, as well as 80% of the Baikonur cosmodrome. Aviation is now in the competence of the Federal Industry Agency.

Anatoly Perminov held different posts in the Strategic Rocket Troops, from regiment deputy commander to first deputy commander of a rocket army. In 1991 he was appointed head of the State Research Proving Ground of the Defense Ministry (now, the State Testing Cosmodrome Plesetsk in the north of Russia). Under his guidance, over 100 launches of spacecraft and combat test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles have been made. In August 1993 Perminov appointed to a post in the central staff of the Strategic Rocket Troops. On March 28, 2001 he became commander of the Space Troops.