RUSSIA, AUSTRALIA COOPERATE IN SPACE EXPLORATION MOSCOW, MARCH 11, 2001. /RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT/








The Russian government has accepted the proposal of the national aerospace agency to cooperate with the Australian company "Asia-Pacific Space Centre". Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has signed an order to the effect.


	


	The centrepiece of the cooperation is development of a new space complex Avrora and the construction of a cosmodrome for launching spacecraft for peaceful purposes on the Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.


	


	Russia will provide on-land equipment for the cosmodrome and service documents for the complex Avrora to the Australian company. Besides, Russian contractors will produce and ship rockets and booster rockets and launch spacecraft from the Christmas Island.