Roscosmos intends negotiating with Kazakhstan on areas for falling debris from rocket separation

Roscosmos intends signing an agreement on a new area for the fallout from rocket separation launched from Baikonur, head of department Vladimir Popovkin told reporters.

The Russian and Kazakh sides cannot agree on a new area for this purpose which is resulting in delay of a number of launches, RIA Novosti reported.

It is necessary to conclude an international treaty to be ratified by the Parliament of the Republic for allocation of a suitable area.

Kazkosmos said the parties began drafting an intergovernmental agreement in 2008, but the text hasn’t been agreed by the parties yet.

“Our task this year is the signing of the agreement with Kazakhstan,” Popovkin said.

He noted that he agreed with the head of the National Space Agency of Kazakhstan (Kazkosmos) Talgat Musabayev to create a working group to address this issue, to invite representatives of foreign ministries of both countries “and to resolve all issues and to sign the agreement in working order as quickly as possible”.

Russia carries out the majority of its government and commercial space launches from Baikonur, which it leases from Kazakhstan for $115 million a year. Russia spends another $50 million a year on maintaining the Baikonur facilities. The lease term ends in 2050 in accordance with interstate agreements.