Moscow, Apr 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russia must catch up with other space powers in deep space exploration, and higher priority should be given to applied projects in space research, President Vladimir Putin said.

Until now, priority has been given to manned space flight, which consumes around half the space programme's total budget, often at the expense of other fields, Putin said at a conference on the development of the space industry.

"We are behind in a number of areas. For example, in remote earth-sensing systems, personal satellite communication systems, and detection and rescue of objects in distress," Putin said.

"Of course, we should preserve everything that has been achieved in piloted programmes, but there is a pressing need to bring other areas up to scratch," he said.

Putin also called for an increase in Russia's satellite grouping in orbit, development of new carrier rockets and manufacturing of more powerful rocket engines.