Sevastyanov, nominated by the government, received the support of the majority of shareholders, an official at the Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) told Itar-Tass.

His opponent was Energia's incumbent head Yuri Semyonov, who had held the position since 1991.

Semyonov is widely credited for many of the achievements of the corporation, that constitute the backbone of Russia's manned space flights program.

He participated in the design and manufacture of all manned space stations- from Salyut to the ISS, the first Russian space shuttle Buran-Energia project, and the new generation reusable manned spacecraft Kliper.

"We would like to have an up-to-date, competitive and financially stable enterprise and (to be) the world's leader in implementing programs for manned space flights, as well as other programs. Of all candidates for the post of the corporation's president, the Federal Space Agency has supported Nikolai Sevastianov because his program is the most realistic and advanced one," Roskosmos head Anatoly Perminov said.

"Over the previous years the corporation has not become investor-attractive or profit-making, although a great deal was done along these lines," he said.

The federal government has a 38.22-percent stake in Energia.

Sevastianov, a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Physical Engineering, worked for Energia from 1984 to 1993. He was then appointed chief of Gazkom when Energia and Gazprombank established Gazkom for the creation of space information systems and satellite network operations.

Under his guidance Gazkom developed and launched new generation communication satellites, Yamal-100, and Yamal-200, and built a ground control complex. Sevastyanov arranged for extra-budgetary financing for the introduction of new technologies during this time.

Sevastyanov firmly advocates manned space missions. "We're now at a crossroads where a new phase of cosmonautics - the industrial phase- is about to set in", Savastyanov told Itar-Tass. "Gone are the times when space studies attracted interest merely for being a new kind of activity," he said.

Sevastyanov believes its necessary to develop Russia's manned space program in such a way that will allow the state to expect tangible economic results, even if only in the distant future. "Space studies will then begin to attract investment," he added.

Sevastyanov regards the development of the Moon's natural resources as one of most promising future projects. He believes a project to extract helium-3 from the Moon can be implemented within 15-20 years, with Energia integrating the project, and many other prominent space firms participating.

"It's not enough to manufacture and modernise Soyuz spaceships. It is now necessary to create new craft for space travel - projects of the Kliper type."

The use of automatic equipment in space is another important trend, he said. In Sevastyanov's view, Energia currently had sufficient experience, expertise and capital to compete effectively in the communication satellite and observation instrument markets.

Commenting on Semyonov's defeat, Sevastyanov replied "I hold in esteem Yuri Semyonov and regard myself as his disciple. I was successful in implementing space projects largely thanks to having studied under Yuri Semyonov".

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