MOSCOW. (Yury Zaitsev for RIA Novosti)
government's decision to reduce appropriations for science.However, the situation has begun to improve in the last several years; notably, space science received 33% more money last year compared with 2004. The aforementioned three projects can be implemented because space science appropriations are to increase even more in 2006.
Work is proceeding apace to complete the Radioastron observatory and launch it next year. The Spektr-RG spacecraft is to lift off in 2008-2009 under the Russia-EU project Spektr-RG/eROSSITA/Lobster. And the Spektr-UF ultraviolet observatory will be launched in 2010.
NPO Lavochkin, a leading Russian space-probe manufacturer, is now developing the Navigator modular space platform for the three astrophysical projects. The new platform will weigh three times less than the 2,500 kg versatile instrument-laden Spektr observatory, which was created in the 1990s, and which could only lift off atop heavy and expensive Proton launch vehicles.
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