Russia's space agency Roskosmos gave a preview of its planned space station, indicating that it was serious in its intention of bolting the International Space Station (ISS).
Russia, which is currently at its most serious Post- Cold War falling out with the West due to sanctions the US and its allies imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, which it calls "special military operation," is seeking to lessen dependency on the West and move ahead on its own or forge alliances with such nations as China and Iran.
These Western sanctions, which was imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is intended to deprive Moscow of funds, technology, and know-how.
Roskosmos unveiled a model of the planned space station, called "ROSS" by Russian state media, on Monday at a military-industrial exhibition called "Army-2022" outside Moscow.
Russia Intends to Leave ISS IN 2024, NASA Says Russia Gave No Official Word on Withdrawal
Roskosmos chief Yuri Borisov has said Russia will leave the ISS after 2024 and is building its own space station.
Launched in 1998, the ISS has been continuously occupied by a U.S.-Russian-led partnership that also includes Canada, Japan and 11 European countries since November 2000.
NASA, which is set to keep the ISS in orbit until 2030, says it has not yet received official word from Russia about its planned withdrawal from the ISS and stated that it stands by a previous understanding that Moscow will keep its partnership until 2028. Russia will still fulfill its obligations until the 2024 cutoff and still even has a deal to swap flight seats with the US.
Russia's new space station will be launched in two phases, Roskosmos said without issuing a timeline.
The first phase of the launch would bring together four-module space station in orbit. Launching two more modules and a service platform will follow. These six modules, when placed in orbit, will be suitable to accommodate four cosmonauts and scientific equipment.
Roskosmos has also declared that the new station may provide cosmonauts a better, much wider view of the Earth than what they have in the ISS.
While designs for some segments of the new station already exist, design work is still ongoing for the other modules.
Reported Launch Timeline of Russia's New Space Station
Russian state media have hinted that the launch of the first phase is set for 2025-26 and no later than 2030. Launch of the final phase is scheduled for 2030-35, they further reported.
As designed, the new Russian space station will not have permanent human occupants but would be staffed alternately twice a year.
Russia Space Station May Serve Military Purpose, Says Ex-Roskosmos Head
This new space station has even been touted as capable for military purposes, claimed ex-Roskosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin, a Kremlin hardliner who is known for his anti-West stance.
