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Moscow, Oct 26 - Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed the nation's commitment to advancing its presence in space, announcing plans to operationalize the first segment of Russia's new orbital station by 2027. This development comes as part of Moscow’s vision for the next frontier in space exploration following the International Space Station (ISS).
During a conference with space industry leaders, Putin also expressed Russia’s intention to persevere with its lunar ambitions, despite the setback in August when the country’s first moonshot in 47 years ended in failure. He emphasized that the decision to extend Russia's participation in the ISS until 2028 is a temporary arrangement, highlighting the necessity of bringing the entire new Russian orbital station into service as the ISS nears the end of its operational life.
“As the resources of the International Space Station run out, we need not just one segment, but the entire station to be brought into service,” Putin insisted. “And in 2027, the first segment should be placed in orbit.”
Putin underscored the urgency of the situation, stating that the development of the station must proceed “all in good time” to avoid falling behind in manned space flight advancements.
Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, supported Putin’s stance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Russia’s capabilities in manned space flight. He pointed out that the ISS is aging and projected to conclude its mission around 2030.
“If we don’t start large-scale work on creating a Russian orbital station in 2024, it is quite likely that we will lose our capability because of the time gap,” Borisov warned. He also commented on the Luna-25 mission, expressing the intention to learn from past mistakes and continue the lunar program, with potential plans to expedite the next moon launch to 2026.
Putin concluded his remarks by addressing the Luna-25 mishap, expressing disappointment but emphasizing the importance of learning from the experience. “Mistakes are mistakes. It is a shame for all of us. This is space exploration, and everyone understands that. It is experience that we can use in the future,” he stated.
As Russia sets its sights on the future of space exploration, the country is poised to embark on a journey of innovation and discovery, with the promise of a new orbital station and continued lunar exploration at the forefront of its agenda.
