The Russian space module is set to cost at least U.S. $ 5 billion, would orbit at a higher latitude
The Director General of Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos – Dmitry Rogozin has said that the Russian agency has commenced work of its own space station.
Russia is already a member of International Space Station (ISS) which was launched in 1998 by United States (U.S.) and Russia. The agreement is set to end in 2024, following which Russia could pull out in 2025. Russia believes that ISS’s structure is ageing.
Being assembled by Energia Corporation, the Russian space module is set to cost at least U.S. $ 5 billion (£ 3.5 billion). Dmitry Rogozin said that the first core module of the new Russian orbital station is in the works with the aim of having it ready for launch in 2025.
Taking it to twitter, Dmitry Rogozin tweeted (translated from Russian), “The first base module for the new Russian space service station is already in operation. The Rocket and Space Corporation Energia has been tasked in 2025 to ensure its readiness for launch into the target orbit.” Original tweet in Russian:
Первый базовый модуль для новой российской орбитальной служебной станции уже в работе. Ракетно-космической корпорации "Энергия" поставлена задача в 2025 году обеспечить его готовность к запуску на целевую орбиту. pic.twitter.com/CYa5o7yk4y
— РОГОЗИН (@Rogozin) April 20, 2021
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia – Yuri Borisov said, “We can’t risk the lives [of our cosmonauts]. The situation that today is connected to the structure and the metal getting old, it can lead to irreversible consequences – to catastrophe. We mustn’t let that happen.”
The proposed Russian space station would orbit at a higher latitude and thus would be better able to view the polar regions, which would be useful for the opening up of the Northern Sea Route. Russia is planning to develop the route as Arctic Sea ice melts.
While the space station would be managed by Russia, it would be open for other countries to join. Separately, Russia has also signed an agreement with China’s National Space Administration to develop a lunar research station on the surface of the Moon, in orbit or both.
Meanwhile, Russia recently completed 60 years of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to go into orbit. Russia enjoyed monopoly on manned space flights until 2020 when NASA astronauts were taken to the ISS via a capsule belonging to Tesla Motors C.E.O., Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Relations between U.S. and Russia have also hit another low. The U.S. Ambassador to Russia – John Sullivan is to return home for consultations, after Russia asked him to leave temporarily. The U.S.’s support to Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s critic – Alexei Navalny over the latter’s alleged poisoning and his detention in Russia, has irritated Russia. Besides, Russia is also not happy with U.S. asking it wo withdraw troops near Ukraine border.
