News / Brèves Back to previous selection / Retour à la sélection précédente Russia Is Considering Proposing a BRICS Space Station 11 April 2015 Prior to the International Space Station Russia operated space station Mir, pictured orbiting around the Earth. EIRNS—In an interview published today in Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Roscosmos head Igor Komarov said that a new space station, to take shape after the end of life for the International Space Station in 2024, is under discussion, and the "framework should not be limited exclusively to current ISS partners. We have to consider a possible participation of BRICS countries in the future projects," he said. Komarov had mentioned in January that the Military Industrial Commission under President Putin was working on a proposal for a BRICS station, which President Putin is reportedly expected to present at the July BRICS summit in Russia. (Press reports that the U.S. had agreed to a post-ISS (International Space Station station) with Russia were not true.) That the Russians want the new station to not be limited to "current ISS partners," means the inclusion of China, which is the only space-faring country that the U.S. will not allow on the ISS. For a new orbiting facility, Russia could immediately partner with China, which could send their Shenzhou spacecraft with a crew to such a station, and unmanned cargo ships for freight deliveries, the first of which they will test next year. India, which is now working on a manned program, would also be a full participant, post-2024. Brazil, which started out as a partner in the ISS but could not meet its commitments, could participate pretty quickly building hardware, and South Africa, could shortly develop scientific experiments for the station. In the interview, Komarov also said that Russia’s 2016-2025 plan does not include a manned mission to the Moon, which is planned after that time-frame, and requires a lot of technology development and rebuilding of Russian space capability. Roscosmos will concentrate over the next decade on robotic lunar missions, which are under development, and cooperate with Europe on their up-coming robotic missions to Mars. Addressing the NASA Advisory Council on April 9th, NASA head Bolden described Komarov as a "forward-looking, positive" individual, and confirmed that Russia is looking at expanding the number of space exploration participants in the long term. Marsha Freeman