Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and the Association of Arab Universities have signed a declaration on the creation of a Russian-Arab consortium for the construction of a space observatory. The project aims to study exoplanets and search for signs of life in the Universe. The document was signed by the Rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy and the Secretary General of the Association Amr Ezzat Salama.
The consortium will bring together universities, research institutes, industrial enterprises and space agencies of Russia and Arab countries. The observatory will be created on the basis of MSU's developments, including the launch of a medium-class optical telescope by 2030. This telescope will allow analyzing the atmospheres of exoplanets and identifying potentially habitable worlds for further research. According to Sadovnichy, the project is comparable in scale to international cooperation within the framework of the International Space Station (ISS).
The initiative will also become part of the business agenda of the First Russian-Arab Summit, which will be held in Moscow on October 15, 2025. Amr Ezzat Salama noted that the project will strengthen cooperation between Russia and Arab countries in space research. The consortium will be engaged in the design, creation and operation of the observatory, as well as the training of specialists for the space industry.
Without a doubt, today's signing of the declaration on the creation of a space observatory for the study of exoplanets and the search for signs of life will be a worthy example of cooperation between Russia and Arab countries in space research.
The Association of Arab Universities, founded in 1964, includes 280 universities from 22 countries and operates within the framework of the League of Arab States. Sadovnichy stressed that cooperation with Arab partners reflects respect for their historical contribution to astronomy, mathematics and navigation.
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