TV-program Cosmos.kz: space industry in Kazakhstan

14 December 2009, 12:12pm

«СТВ» TV-channel (Kazakhstan) broadcasted this autumn the fourth presentation of thematic programs called «Cosmos.kz», during which ScanEx RDC Deputy General Director Olga Gershenzon told about the cooperation with Kazakhstan in sphere of Earth remote sensing. Fragments of the fourth «Cosmos.kz» program presentation are published here below.

“From time immemorial mankind strived to get inside space environment. Besides the eternal hunger for knowledge people have been motivated lately by the need of using possibilities that space research give for the benefit of the society and economy as a whole. Each country has its own way to resolve this task. A few years ago the fledgling independent Kazakhstan started to take its first steps towards this direction. However, prior to resolving this task it was necessary to consolidate what had already been working at that time and contributed to the development of the country — the space science of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has always been highly ranked among other former USSR republics in sphere of outer space research.

The astrophysical Institute, the Institute of Ionosphere and observatories were nationally and internationally renowned. However, Kazakh country and science leaders were sure that Kazakhstan, if certain efforts are applied, could achieve more success. President Nazarbaev sighted the creation of a national space program as one of the first tasks of the young country and as a path towards mastering of cutting-edge technologies.

Olga Gershenzon: — Being a representative of the science-intensive business in sphere of remote sensing, I lay great hopes on the cooperation with Kazakhstan, which, on the one hand has already been implemented for the past 15 years and, on the other hand, seeing a wise policy of the state and the Kazakh president in this direction, I hope that we will find even more efficient ways of interaction, especially in terms of launching new series of satellites that I believe should be self-sufficient. Not in terms of business paying for the satellite launches, but in terms of the government supporting the creation of the respective infrastructure. Then certain interested enthusiastic and creative teams should pick up and promote this idea. Hope, we could be helpful at this stage.

In XX century it was a hefty development of the fundamental science that predetermined the science-technical process of the mankind and the breakaway of leading countries. Corresponding financing of scientific research works enabled to make epoch-making discoveries and to attain colossal results: to send a human being into space, to create atomic energy, to make a technological breakthrough in many industries. Nowadays, we make use of these discoveries that were made many years ago. The place science takes in a country determines its future.”

View the video (in Russian)

Geo: International