Kremlin Orders Russian Space Program to Become "More Ambitious"

According to Russian news service Interfax, the country plans to use at least some of its recent wealth to make its space program stronger.

The news agency cites an interview with Roscosmos (the Russian counterpart of NASA) head Anatoly Perminov, posted on the agency's Web site. In the interview, the official apparently says the central government has ordered Roscosmos to make its 2009-2015 plan "more ambitious."

What that means isn't yet clear. Roscosmos has previously outlined long-term goals for missions to the Moon and Mars, plans for a new spaceport, and for a new generation of manned spacecraft.

Interfax quotes Perminov thusly:

"The implementation of such large-scale and long-range projects should begin in the period covered by the current program," the Roscosmos head said.

"That is why adjustments are required. Then it [the program] will become ambitious," Perminov said.

Separately, news agency RIA Novosti quotes Perminov discussing plans to create a new space station some time after 2020, which could be used as a base for transport operations to the Moon and Mars.

Russian space program will become more ambitious – Perminov [Interfax]
Russia to launch space base for missions to Moon, Mars after 2020 [RIA Novosti]

(Image: Russian Soyuz rocket in pre-launch operations. Credit: Roscosmos)