🚀 Russia's Space Shift: ISS Future Uncertain 🛰️

Russia Reaffirms Commitment to the International Space Station
Russia will continue to manage the operations and legacy of the International Space Station (ISS), addressing the ongoing challenges associated with the project. For several years, Russian officials have championed the Russian Orbital Station (ROS), initially slated for launch beginning in 2027 with full human habitation expected by 2028. The ROS was envisioned as a sophisticated station, incorporating seven new modules potentially including a habitat for space tourists, and capable of autonomous operation for extended periods. Crucially, the ROS was designed to operate in a polar orbit at approximately 400 kilometers, allowing it to observe the entire territory of Russia and eliminating the need for launches from Kazakhstan – instead utilizing the country’s newly established Vostochny Cosmodrome.

A Polar Orbit Strategy Takes Shape
This week a significant development emerged: Oleg Orlov, director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced that the core of the ROS will consist of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, a decision supported by the Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos and approved for deployment. “Russian orbital station as part of the Russian segment of the ISS,” Orlov reportedly said. This announcement clarifies a statement earlier in December from First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov regarding the station’s orbit, which now aligns more logically. “We’ve decided on a 51.6-degree inclination angle for our ROS space station,” Manturov stated. “Previously, we were considering a 96-degree inclination angle.” The International Space Station currently operates in a 51.6-degree inclination orbit, easily accessible from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

US Segment Set for Controlled Demise
Consequently, in 2030, the Russian segment of the International Space Station will separate from the American-controlled side. Following this separation, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will maneuver the aging US segment to reenter the atmosphere in a controlled manner and splash down into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.

Challenges and a Focus on Station Maintenance
Several elements of the station have been in orbit for more than 30 years. Currently, Russian cosmonauts on the space station dedicate approximately 50 percent of their time to station maintenance due to the aging infrastructure. “There are significant challenges facing Russia’s space program,” said a source close to the industry. “We won’t have a new orbital station with modern capabilities yet, and the Vostochny Cosmodrome is losing much of its significance, potentially leading to a decline in investments for manned flight launch pads. Furthermore, there may not be much time for new research; Russian cosmonauts on the space station currently dedicate approximately 50 percent of their time to maintaining aging infrastructure.”