2023-10-27 13:50:37
The Russian space agency Roscomos said on Friday that its segment of the International Space Station (ISS) is too obsolete to ensure its continued operation, with Moscow counting on the construction of its own station despite the difficulties in the sector.
According to Roscosmos boss Yuri Borissov, “80% of Russian equipment has already exceeded all warranty periods” allowing them to remain in service on the orbital laboratory, in the maintenance of which Moscow plays a key role.
Thus, “the International Space Station is nearing the end of its existence,” he said in an interview with the public television channel Rossiya 24.
A model of international cooperation mainly bringing together the United States and Russia, the ISS began to be assembled in 1998. Its retirement was planned for 2024, but NASA estimated that it might operate until 2030.
Several technical problems have occurred recently on the Russian segment of the ISS, including three incidents involving leaks, such as that on the Nauka module in early October which did not endanger the crew.
Russia announced in July 2022 its intention to withdraw from the ISS, where its cosmonauts are permanently located. The creation of a new Russian orbital station is therefore presented as the main priority by Roscosmos.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the first segment of this new Russian space station should be put into orbit in 2027, promising to continue the conquest of space despite recent setbacks.
The Russian space sector, which has historically been the pride of the country, has suffered for years from funding problems, corruption scandals and failures such as the loss in August of the Luna-25 lunar probe.
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