According to Sergei Kilin, deputy chairman, Presidium, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, speaking ahead of the event, “We expect the largest delegations from Russia and the US. Minsk will also welcome guests from Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, China, and other countries."

Famous cosmonauts are expected to include Svetlana Savitskaya, the first woman to go for a spacewalk. Minsk will also welcome China’s first cosmonaut Yang Liwei and the former holder of the longest time in outer space record Sergei Krikalev.

The legendary cosmonaut Viktor Savinykh, who revived the space station Salyut 7, will be in Minsk, too.