Russia plans to launch own space station after quitting ISS

Name: SpaceX capsule with 4 astronauts reaches International Space Station
Uploaded: 2021-04-21T19:39:46.000Z
Duration: 2 min 57 s
Description: SpaceX capsule with 4 astronauts reaches International Space Station

The country’s space agency chief says it is aiming for a 2030 launch, and can begin construction once Putin gives the go-ahead

The project would mark the end of over 20 years of close cooperation with the US aboard the ageing International Space Station

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The International Space Station (ISS) was photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking in October 2018. Photo: Roscosmos via Reuters

Reuters

Published: 3:39am, 22 Apr 2021Updated: 3:39am, 22 Apr 2021

Russia is ready to start building its own space station with the aim of launching it into orbit by 2030 if President Vladimir Putin gives the go-ahead, the head of its Roscosmos space agency said on Wednesday.

The project would mark a new chapter for Russian space exploration and an end to more than two decades of close cooperation with the United States aboard the ageing International Space Station (ISS).

“If in 2030, in accordance with our plans, we can put it into orbit, it will be a colossal breakthrough,” Interfax news agency quoted Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin as saying.

“The will is there to take a new step in world manned space exploration.”

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SpaceX capsule with 4 astronauts reaches International Space Station

Russian cosmonauts have worked with counterparts from the United States and 16 other countries about the ISS since 1998 – one of the closest fields of cooperation between Moscow and Washington, whose relations are currently in deep crisis over human rights, cyberattacks and a range of other issues.