Posted: Wed, Mar 10, 2004, 3:27 PM ET (2027 GMT)
A reshuffling of the Russian government has given the Russian space agency a new name and removed aircraft from its purview, but has left its long-time head still in charge, Itar-Tass reported Wednesday. Since 1999 the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, or Rosaviakosmos, had been responsible for both aviation and space issues. However, on Tuesday the aviation portion of the agency's portfolio was transferred to the Transport Ministry. The agency, now called the Federal Space Agency, will remain responsible for space issues as part of the Ministry of Industry and Energy. Yuri Koptev, who has led the Russian space agency since its formation in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, will remain in charge of the Federal Space Agency, according to the Itar-Tass report, which cited an unidentified source within the agency. The change is apparently part of a wider reshuffling of the Russian government announced Tuesday by president Vladimir Putin, who consolidated the 30 ministers who had made up his cabinet down to 17 positions.

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