OREANDA-NEWS. March 20, 2008. Among other things, First Deputy Prime Minister reported that the programme for developing the Russian space sector through to 2020 will be discussed at the upcoming Security Council meeting. According to Mr Ivanov the Security Council will consider all aspects of Russian activities in space, including with regards to manned space craft, defence, security, social and economic policy, and research, as well as the development of infrastructure on the ground, including the construction of a new space launch centre, Vostochnyi, in the Amur region in the Russian Far East.

In turn, the head of Roscosmos identified a number of tasks for the Russian space industry. They include maintaining Russia's position as a leading space power, obtaining necessary information for the Russian economy, defence capacities, security and science, and also providing independent access to space from Russian territory.