Source : http://www3.sympatico.ca/jacqueslebel/station_myr.htm

Station Myr
International Public & Cultural Space Project
Знамя Мира

International Public & Cultural Space Project – "The Banner of Peace" – is carried out by Russian and international non-governmental organizations with the purpose of advancing the concept of the Culture of Peace and the idea that culture is the basis for uniting countries and nations with different political, religious and philosophic outlooks, traditions and customs.

The Banner of Peace is the symbol of the first international treaty on the protection of world artistic and scientific institutions and historical monuments (the Roerich Pact). The treaty was signed in the White House in the presence of President F. D. Roosevelt by U.S. and 20 other nations in 1935.

The focal element of the Project is the exchange of the Banners of Peace between the Russian and the American people via the Mir Space Station with international crew.

On July 30, 1997 the International Center of the Roerichs (Moscow) and the Russia’s Federation of Cosmonautics presented the Banner of Peace to cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyev and Pavel Vinogradov and astronaut Wendy Lawrence in Zvesdny Gorodok (Star City). On August 5, 1997, four Banners of Peace from Russia were launched onboard Soyuz TM-26 spacecraft from Baikonour, Kazakhstan. On January 28, 1998 Soyuz TM-27 spacecraft with the Banner of Peace was launched to the Mir Station. The crew consists of: Talgat Musabayev – CDR, Nikolai Budarin – FE, Leopold Eyhartz – a French Research Astronaut. On June 2, 1998 USA’s shuttle Discovery (STS-91) with four Banners of Peace from United States of America was launched to the Mir Station. This Banner of Peace have been given to the Discovery crew by the Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York city. The crew consists of: Charles J. Precourt – CDR, Dominic L. Gorie (Pilot), Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Janet Kavandi, Valery V. Ryumin.

The Banner of Peace in outer space and the exchange of Banners of Peace between peoples through the outer space symbolize the global responsibility for the destiny of mankind and of the planet, partnership of nations in the preservation and development of the world’s cultural values. It is an expression of our gratitude to those who were the first ones to inaugurate the Banner of Peace.

The Banner of Peace Project is carried out with the UNO/DPI support. The purpose of the project is to advance concepts and ideas:

The concept of the Culture of Peace is the philosophy on the eve of new Millennium. Culture is the basis for uniting countries and nations with different political, religious and philosophic outlooks, traditions and customs.

In the new Millennium only partnership and cooperation can be the foundation of a meaningful future for humanity; and Culture is the basis for the building of the common home for humanity on the Earth.

The space technologies support human expansion to space and bring new scientific knowledge to people. At the same time the space technologies are the basis of the future Space Civilization. During the first 37 years manned space flights has been the Space Culture first steps.

At the fall of the XXth century the sustainable development concept has become predominant in the world community. Currently the sustainable development of humanity is impossible without space activities.

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PRESIDENT OF THE BANNER OF PEACE PROJECT :
Alexei A. LEONOV
pilot-cosmonaut,
Association of Space Explorers Co-Chairman

CO-PRESIDENTS OF THE BANNER OF PEACE PROJECT:
Anatolyi N. BEREZOVOI
pilot-cosmonaut,
Russia’s Federation of Cosmonautics Vice-President

Gorimir G. CHERNYI
academician of RAS, President of the Russian Association of IAA Members

Yury N. GLAZKOV
pilot-cosmonaut,
Yu.A.Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center Deputy Commander

Sergei P. KAPITSA
Prof., Euro-Asian Physical Society President,
Russian Academy of Nature Sciences Vice-President

Anatolyi E. KARPOV
International Association of Peace Foundations President,
Many times World Champion (Chess)

Boris V. RAUSHENBACH
academician of RAS,
International League for Protection of Culture Honorary President

Ludmila V. SHAPOSHNIKOVA
International Centre of the Roerichs Vice-President,
N.K.Roerich Museum Director

Fedor F. SVETIK
professor, International Humanitarian Foundation "Znanie" Board Chairman

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The Banner of Peace Project Executive Director
Elizaveta B.Matveeva
Russia’s Federation of Cosmonautics Presidium Member

3/5, Malyi Znamenskyi per., 121019 Moscow, Russian Federation

phone: (095) 203-72-77, (095) 360-72-05, fax (095) 203-71-84

e-mail bublik@ogo.ru

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Cosmonauts A. Balandin and G. Strekalov with the Banner of Peace. Mir Space Station. Russian cultural program "Space-Human-Culture". 1990. (Photo from the archive of RKK "Energija")

International Centre of the Roerich, Moscou, Russie : autorisé par Mme Ludmila V.  Shaposhnikova Vice-Présidente. http://www.icmr.org