Russia should make many steps forward to return its leading positions in space exploration, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his Q&A session on Thursday. This reported by TASS.

"These technologies are developing and they are developing very actively and are being commercialized very actively and in this sense we must make many steps forward, including with regard to the quality of satellites and the quality of equipment. We must return and firmly keep our competence and leadership in launches," the Russian president said.

Russia has unique competences in space exploration: the world’s first artificial satellite was launched by the Soviet Union and the world’s first man in outer space Yuri Gagarin was our compatriot, Putin stressed.

Nevertheless, there is now competition in this sphere, Putin said, citing the example of partners from France and Asia and also from the United States. "This is very good and normal and we are working with all the partners and we have plans of joint work," the Russian leader said.

Putin cited as an example cooperation of Russian and US scientists who are working on the study of the deep space, in particular, such planets as Venus, despite sanctions.

According to the president, there are plans to launch 600 communications and Earth’s remote sensing satellites under the unique Sfera program in the next few years. 

"We have our own program, a very good program, a new program called Sfera, which envisages launching more than 600 satellites in the next few years that will deal with positioning, the Earth’s probing and communications," Putin said.

"This will be generally a breakthrough," the Russian president said.