Article Posted on : - Apr 28, 2011

A file photo.

STOCKHOLM (BNS): Russia and Sweden agreed on Wednesday to improve cooperation in the space industry during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Stockholm.

According to a news report in RIA Novosti, both the countries signed a declaration which includes their intention to launch Swedish satellites using Russian carrier rockets.

Russia and Sweden also agreed to jointly use ground facilities to gather information for operating their own orbital objects and those of third countries, the report added.

Both the sides will also cooperate within a Russian space research project, which is estimated at $1.23 billion, to monitor the Earth's polar regions, which is scheduled to begin operating in 2015.

The project will use a new satellite cluster to provide environmental monitoring data for accurate weather forecasts and to aid national socio-economic development.

Vladimir Putin also invited Sweden to increase its cooperation with Russia on its Glonass satellite navigation system.

Russia will also study the Swedish experience in the creation of its SWEPOS satellite navigation system, which uses the Glonass signal.