The head of Roscosmos announced the extension of the work of the Russian segment of the ISS until 2028

By decision of the Russian government, the operation of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) has been extended until 2028. This was announced by Yury Borisov, Director General of Roscosmos, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meeting passes on Cosmonautics Day, which is celebrated on April 12.

Borisov announced the stable financial position of the space industry and added that the state corporation “understands where to go.” The head of Roscosmos added that he intends to share with the president strategic plans for the development of a multi-satellite constellation.

“And especially the time has come to discuss in detail the issues of creating the Russian Orbital Station, because by decision of the government, the operation of the International Space Station has been extended until 2028,” Borisov said.

He noted that “time is running fast” and Russia “shouldn’t have breaks in manned cosmonautics.” According to Borisov, the sketch of the project of the orbital station will be ready in the summer of 2023, during today’s meeting he will tell the head of state about the main parameters and appearance of the station, as well as the stages of its creation.

In response, Putin recalled that one of the goals of the station is to prepare “for the implementation of our plans for the Moon.” Borisov said that the project will allow Russian specialists to master the technologies needed, among other things, for the lunar program. According to him, this is one of the advantages of the new orbit and the Russian orbital station.

In July 2022, Borisov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the withdrawal from the ISS project and the development of the Russian Orbital Station. However, in November Borisov named premature talk about Russia’s withdrawal from the ISS project. He explained that the timing will depend on the technical condition of the Russian segment of the ISS and the timing of the deployment of its own Russian orbital station.

At the end of December, the director of the state corporation for manned programs, Sergei Krikalev, said that Roscosmos had proposed to the government to extend the operation of the Russian segment of the ISS until 2028. The current agreement on the operation of the ISS expires in 2024. According to him, the Cabinet of Ministers requested additional materials substantiating the technical feasibility of extending the operation of the ISS.

Last week, April 6, at the state corporation confirmedthat this proposal has been sent to the government. Earlier in February, the extension of the operation of the ISS until 2028. approved scientific and technical council of Roskosmos.