Roscosmos announced readiness for the construction of a near-moon station

The Russian-American agreement on the creation of a station in the lunar orbit was concluded in 2017, but the final agreement on the distribution of roles of partners in the project was not reached then. The future plans of Roskosmos in relation to the “space construction” were told to journalists by the general director of the state corporation Dmitry Rogozin.

“We confirmed to our American colleagues who sent us the draft memorandum that we are ready to participate in the negotiations. For us, not only issues related to iron are extremely important here, but above all – with the principle. We need to look for those principles that work when making complex decisions, ”Rogozin told reporters.

Initially, the American project involved the construction of only a gateway module and life support systems in Russia. Later, representatives of NASA said that the Russian side could be delegated the right to build a ship for the delivery of crews to a lunar orbit. According to Rogozin, the modernized Soyuz spacecraft would provide a backup system of flights to the moon. The United States also concluded that astronauts needed to land on the lunar surface, although previously it was only intended to study a satellite from orbit.

During a press conference at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Dmitry Rogozin said that the ISS nodal and scientific-energy modules intended for docking with the ISS could be left on Earth for later use in the construction of the near-moon station. NASA representatives have not yet announced plans for the agency to further “moon” cooperation with Roscosmos.