You're reading: Russian spacecraft for Fobos-Grunt program to be controlled from Yevpatoria

Simferopol, June 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The control of the Russian spacecraft under the Fobos-Grunt program, which is planned to be launched in 2011, will be carried out from Ukraine's National Space Facilities Control and Test Center based in Yevpatoria, Crimea.

This decision was taken by Russia, first deputy chief of the National Space Facilities Control and Test Center Serhiy Husev said at a press conference in Simferopol on Wednesday.

According to him, under the program the Russian spacecraft produced by Lavochkin Research and Production Association will fly to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars, collect soil samples from Phobos and return them to Earth for scientific research.

"As a result of the studies, the Russian side decided that the best way will be controlling the project from Yevpatoria," he explained.