On February 9, 2011 pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of Russia, Director of RAS S.I. Vavilov Institute of Natural Science and Technology History Yury Baturin and instructor of Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, researcher of RAS S.I. Vavilov Institute of Natural Science and Technology History Dmitry Scherbinin visited Kurchatov and Kursk NPP. 

Their visit took place within the framework of a partnership project called ”Point of Contact: Peaceful Space. Peaceful Atom. Nuclear City», dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight.

The objective of this project is popularization of Russian piloted cosmonautics achievements, highlighting of the historical role of the nuclear power industry and cosmonautics in the formation of intellectual and economic potential of the country.

The guests went on excursion to Kurchatov city and Kursk NPP where they visited the Turbine Island, unit control room, central hall, dosimetry control board. Yu. Baturin and D. Scherbinin also took part in the awarding of winners of the city children’s art contest “Space through the Eyes of Children” and a meeting with Kurchatov schoolchildren.

This very day a round-table conference on “Application of Rosatoms’ Innovations in the Space Industry” was organized in the Public Information Centre of Kursk NPP. Administration of Kursk NPP and the city, representatives of the city Duma, regional industrial committee, South-Western State University, Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense FSUE, OJSC “Pribor”, media men took part in the conference.

Deputy Chief Engineer of Kursk NPP Vyacheslav Fedyukin welcomed the participants of the event. “Today two topics will be discussed in the course of the round-table conference: the sky and the earth. I think that it’s symbolic because there are points of contact between the space and the earth peaceful atom”, Vyacheslav Alexandrovich noted. “Application of high-tech nuclear power industry innovations in the cosmonautics is just indispensable”. 

“I’d like to emphasize the importance and necessity of such meetings”, Yury Baturin mentioned in his speech. “Nowadays, in the XXI century, we especially value innovative technologies which can be applied in all sectors and branches of the economy, especially in such highly precise and knowledge-intensive branches as nuclear power engineering and industry”.

Head of space communications centre of South-Western State University Valeryan Pikkiyev made reports and video presentations for the round table participants, demonstrated the record of telecommunication session with cosmonauts, told them about the centre research, and Chief Researcher of Kursk Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense Alexander Konichenko demonstrated trial models of equipment applied in the space industry.

In conclusion of the meeting Yury Baturin answered the questions of the round table participants, thanked Kursk NPP administration for the opportunity of visiting the enterprise, mentioned the high level of the plant personnel work, expertise and large-scale production. Yury Mikhailovich also said some warm words about Kurchatov schoolchildren, emphasized their spacious mind, profound knowledge and polymathy. 

“In the operation of a nuclear power plant like in the operation of a space station everything must be well-run and thought out, and this is the only way to ensure safe operation of the two vital branches”, Yury Baturin summarized.