Space Cowboys: Moscow to Mull Building Russian Orbital Station in Spring 2017

In spring, Moscow will consider Russian scientists' proposal to build a national orbiting space station to replace the International Space Station.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The proposal to establish a Russian national orbiting space station to replace the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024 will most likely be debated by the government next spring, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday.

"Within the field of view is the idea proposed by our scientists to create a national orbital space station instead of the ISS. But this is a pending issue associated with political and technical issues. It will be probably decided in spring 2017," Rogozin told reporters.

Russia's space industry development strategy into 2030 should be developed in the next 90 days, Rogozin said.

"The draft space activity strategy was reported by [Roscosmos State Corporation head Igor] Komarov. The government needs to adopt the strategy in the next three months," he told reporters.

Russia-US work on the International Space Station beyond 2024 will depend on Moscow’s cooperation with the new US administration, the deputy prime minister said.

"Much will depend on the political moments in relations with the Americans, with the new administration. It will be discussed," he said.