Russian Federal Space Agency, ROSCOSMOS, negotiated with the Brazilian Space Agency about creating the communication and Earth's remote sensing satellite for the latter. It was announced by the head of ROSCOSMOS, Vladimir Popovkin. According to his words, Brazil often changes managers responsible for the space agency activities and some of them do not quite understand the financial issues.

Popovkin also said that the "Soyuz FG" Belarusian spacecraft launched on July 22 from Baikonur by Russian carrier rocket has passed the tests successfully. Answering journalists' questions in connection with the planned ratification of the agreement between Russia and Belarus on cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, the head of ROSCOSMOS noted that it should have been signed ten years ago.