Russia may put its own high-latitude orbital station into operation after 2017. The project was developed by scientific organizations of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Kommersant reports.
According to a source close to the management team of TsNIIMash (Central Research Institute of Machine Building) the project for putting high-latitude orbital station into operation is one of the top-priority ones in the network of a draft program for development of manned space flights for the period until 2050. This draft program is being elaborated by a joint group comprising representatives of Roscosmos and involved scientific organizations.
It is planned to put the Russian orbital station into service in 2017-2019 period. “Its initial configuration will be developed on the basis of multi-purpose laboratory and node modules of OKA-T spacecraft,” the source said. — Soyuz-MS and Progress-MS spacecraft will support operation of the station. In 2020-2024 energy and convertible modules designed for Lunar program may be tested”.
Despite these plans, Russia is not going to terminate the ISS project earlier than planned; Moscow is committed to fulfill its international obligations until 2020.
We remind you that in May in light of cooling in relations between Moscow and Washington in response to sanctions against Russia imposed by USA Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government, Dmitry Rogozin, said that Russia is not going to support the position of USA and will not continue operation of ISS after 2020; Russia will allocate funds intended for ISS program for implementation of other projects instead. In early November, the head of Roscosmos, Oleg Ostapenko, told NASA chief Charles Bolden that Russia will make final decision on operation of ISS beyond 2020 by year end.











