Finance
Russia to help select and train first Myanmar cosmonaut
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia will help select and train Myanmar's first cosmonaut after a visit by Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov. The pact adds GLONASS and space-safety sites, underscoring deeper Russia–Myanmar ties.
Russia to train Myanmar's first cosmonaut after cooperation deal
Russia-Myanmar Space and Investment Ties
MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it will help select and train Myanmar's first cosmonaut in a sign of growing ties with the Southeast Asian state.
Cosmonaut Selection and Training
The offer was made during a visit to Myanmar this week by Dmitry Bakanov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, who signed an agreement with his Myanmar counterpart on developing cooperation in human space flight.
Roscosmos said Bakanov also met Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar's military junta.
GLONASS Station and Space Monitoring
Myanmar will deploy a data-collection station for Russia's GLONASS satellite navigation system, and provide a site for a warning system to track hazardous objects in near-Earth space, Roscosmos said.
Min Aung Hlaing–Putin Talks
Investment Deal and Nuclear Project
Min Aung Hlaing visited Moscow last year for talks with President Vladimir Putin, and the two countries subsequently signed an investment deal that Russia hopes will open up opportunities in Myanmar for its energy companies.
Political Context Since 2021
Russia has also contracted to build a small-scale nuclear plant in Myanmar, where the junta seized power in 2021 by toppling the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
Reporting and Editing Credits
(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia will help select and train Myanmar's first cosmonaut, formalizing new space cooperation.
- •Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov signed a human spaceflight cooperation agreement in Myanmar.
- •Myanmar to host a GLONASS data station and a site to track hazardous near‑Earth objects.
- •Bakanov also met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to advance bilateral space ties.
- •The move follows wider Russia–Myanmar investment deals, including energy cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia to help select and train first Myanmar cosmonaut
1What is the main topic?
Russia has agreed to help select and train Myanmar’s first cosmonaut, expanding bilateral space cooperation. The deal also includes GLONASS and space-safety infrastructure in Myanmar.
2Who signed the agreement?
Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov signed the human spaceflight cooperation agreement during a visit to Myanmar and held talks with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.
3What else is included in the cooperation?
Myanmar will deploy a GLONASS data-collection station and host a site for tracking hazardous near‑Earth objects, complementing broader Russia–Myanmar investment and energy ties.