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Soviet Space Cooperation

Soviet Attitude Toward International Cooperation in Space *

* Prepared by Joseph G. Whelan, Senior Specialist in International Affairs, Senior Specialists Division, CRS.

SPACE COOPERATION: AN IMPERATIVE IN THE PRESENT

ERA

COMMITMENTS IN ACCORD

AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE FOR SPACE ACTIVITIES

COOPERATION WITH OTHER NON-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES

MINIMAL SPACE RELATIONS

Judging from the extensive materials reviewed, Soviet bilateral cooperation with non-Communist countries, other than those discussed above, appears to have been minimal.

Sweden has had a limited program of space cooperation with the Soviets. In June 1975, a Swedish and Czechoslovak payload was lost in an unsuccessful mission. Subsequently, another Swedish experiment was flown aboard Interkosmos 16. Successful, this experiment involved linear polarization in solar ultraviolet radiation (66)

In 1978, the Soviets offered to launch at least one ESA Marots maritime communications spacecraft as the Soviet Union's contribution toward setting up an operational system in the context of the Mansat program. The Soviet offer, described as an "unusual cooperative effort, was discussed in a major presentation of ESA to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. (67)

SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN TRACKING

Perhaps one factor in reducing the range of Soviet space relations has been their virtual self-sufficiency in tracking Having been able to accommodate a vast nationwide tracking system in their own country because of its size (2V2 times that of the United States) the Soviets have had a broad base for space operations without going abroad. Efforts have been made, however, to put some tracking facilities in Africa and Cuba. (68)

But the Soviets have accepted the constraints on their space operations, and in addition to their own home base they have relied on some 11 tracking ships assigned to the Academy of Science The most widely known of these ships are: Kosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, Akademik Sergey Korolev, Kosmonaut Vladislav Volkou Kosmonavt Pavel Belyayev, Kosmonavt Georgiy Dobrovolskiy, and Kosmonaut Viktor Patseyeu. Other unidentified tracking ships associated with military missile tests, have been available to augment the Soviet tracking system. (69)

Self-sufficiency in tracking for the Soviets has the virtue of reducing the necessity of establishing arrangements with other nations to house tracking facilities. In contrast, the United States has had to maintain a worldwide tracking system.

ON FUTURE COOPERATION

Whether Soviet space relations with other non-Communist countries will expand can only be a matter of speculation. The appeal of space cooperation however, cannot be minimized; for among the countries of the Third World, who like India have much to gain from the practical application of space technology to their development needs, space cooperation holds a special attraction.

Illustrative of the potential appeal of space cooperation in the Third World is the apparent impact that Soviet space hero cosmonaut Shatalov made during his goodwill tour of the Philippine Islands in 1977. Filipino university students were particularly interested, he said, in the practical application of space technology in such areas as, the discovery of mineral resources, in the study of oceanography and fishing resources, and in developing early warning systems for detecting approaching typhoons—all matters of concern to the Philippines.

Against this background of real need Shatalov could and did make his sales-pitch for cooperation with the Soviet Union:

I stressed time and again that the Soviet Union co-operates in space exploration with many countries and strives to expand international co-operation in this field. I found my Philippine hosts interested in that and generally in co-operation with the Soviet Union in other fields. (70)

References:

A. SOVIET SPACE PROGRAMS: 1976-80, SUPPORTING VEHICLES AND LAUNCH VEHICLES, POLITICAL GOALS AND PURPOSES, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE, ADMINISTRATION, RE-SOURCE BURDEN, FUTURE OUTLOOK PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF HON. BOB PACKWOOD, Chairman, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, UNITED STATES SENATE, Part 1, Dec. 1982.

66. House Science and Technology Committee, World-Wide Space Activities, 1977, p. 510.

67. Covault, Craig, Soviets Offer to Launch Marots Vehicle, Aviation Week & Space Technology, vol. 108, Feb. 27, 1978; 45 See also March 13, 1978;77

68. Sheldon, United States and Soviet Progress in Space, 1980, p. 22.

69. Ibid., p.23.

70. Interviews: A Cosmonaut Looks at the Philippines. New Times ( Moscow), vol. 1, January 1978:23-24. For an explanation of Japan's poor record of space cooperation and the potentiality for cooperation in the future (a future from which the Soviets cannot be excluded), see, statement of Dr. Minoru Oda, chairman, Space Science Committee, University of Tokyo, House Science and Technology Committee, Hearings, International Space Activities, 1978, pp. 123-124. Dr. Oda explained Japan's isolationism and the gradual movement toward international cooperation and then said, "But we are only at the beginning and there will be more collaboration perhaps starting with these in science."