In particular, the prime minister was shown the equipment that has been created at the nuclear facility for the planned launch by Russia and Germany of two research space satellites from the Baikonur Cosmodrome over the course of the next three years.

The prime minister visited one of the units of the nuclear centre which is doing research for the civilian sector. First Deputy Director of VNIIEF Vyacheslav Solovyov said that the physicists and mathematicians were pouring their efforts into creating a super computer, along with working on computer modelling and portable computers. He said computer modelling enabled engineers to minimise the money and time they spent on conducting field experiments. For example, this programme helped calculate the necessary parameters for the Sukhoi Superjet in the event that the plane is forced to make an emergency landing without any landing gear. Carrying out field trials for such a scenario would be impossible.

Computer simulations are also carried out for various other Russian enterprises, such as KAMAZ. They are also used to work out thresholds in the modules of nuclear power plants. Special concepts have been created for each field: for instance, "a virtual aircraft" and "a virtual nuclear power plant." The specialists in Sarov have also developed a portable computer with a performance of 3.5 teraflops, as well as accompanying software. A proposal has been made to supply them to Russian companies.

The details of each project were described to the prime minister by the project leaders and the young specialists working on them. The number of such young specialists working in Sarov is growing every year. Vladimir Putin asked research assistant Oksana Denisova whether she was enjoying her chosen career and if the job paid well. "I enjoy it very much, all the more so because I can work in my home country in my field of expertise and receive a decent wage," Denisova replied. When asked to be more specific, Denisova said that she received a salary of 80,000 roubles a month. Vladimir Putin seemed impressed by the amount. "If we started paying lieutenants 50,000 roubles then for specialists working in centres like yours the pay should be even higher, and you should understand that the government is thinking about you," Putin said.

Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude to the scientists and passed on the appreciation of the Russian government to the centre's employees. "It is a modest appraisal of your hard efforts," he said.

During his tour of the VNIIEF plant the prime minister spoke with the well-known Russian physicist, 85-year-old Yury Trutnev. The prime minister and the scientist first met in 2003 when Vladimir Putin last visited. During their meeting Yury Trutnev shared his ideas about the patriotic education of the country's youth with the prime minister.