World Space Observatory-Ultraviolet (WSO/UV)

We describe the WSO/UV Project. The WSO/UV Project -lead by the Russian Space Agency Rosaviakosmos- consists of a spectroscopic and imaging mission on a 1.7 m telescope in the Ultraviolet domain (110nm -- 320nm). The spectroscopic capabilities include both a low resolution long slit mode at R ≈ 1,000 and a high resolution mode (slitless aperture only )at R ≈ 55,000 The operational orbit of the WSO/UV is in a halo orbit around Lagrangian 2. The WSO/UV mission which will supply an important observing capability for the astrophysical community, allowing to address fundamental questions associated with the evolution of heavy element abundances in the Universe, and to address also the primary questions related to the formation of stars and the subsequent planet formation. It will also present an important follow-up capability for the UV Sky Surveys of GALEX and TAUVEX. This mission, foreseen for Launch in the 2008 time frame, has been conceived in innovative ways to assure that early participation of developing countries in a space science mission will contribute in an extremely cost effective way to capacity building in these countries. The direct involvement of Developing Nations in the project without crippling costs, presents a unique cooperation opportunity for coordinated joint capacity building involving close collaboration between both space fairing and non-space fairing nations to mutual benefit.