Russia has given Roscosmos a budget of Rbs1.4trn (US$20.5bn) for its activities between 2016 and 2025. Igor Komarov, the head of Roscosmos, said a further Rbs115bn (US$1.7bn) could be added to that amount after 2022.
Russia has given Roscosmos a budget of Rbs1.4trn (US$20.5bn) for its activities between 2016 and 2025.
Igor Komarov (pictured), the head of Roscosmos, said a further Rbs115bn (US$1.7bn) could be added to that amount after 2022, according to a statement on the Russian government’s website.
The budget is 30% less than the Rbs2trn (US$29.4bn) planned last year as Russia’s economy has contracted in the face of international sanctions and plummeting oil and gas prices.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the budget would ensure Russia’s space independence.
Up until 2015 Roscosmos was a government agency, but last year it was merged with United Rocket and Space Corporation. Alongside budgetary issues, a succession of launch failures and corruption charges were reported to be behind the decision to reform Russia’s space sector.
It retained the Roscosmos name, but became a state corporation with an expanded remit as part of the country’s plan to streamline its space operations.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin suggested that, because of the transformation of Roscosmos, Russia will be able to continue with the main aspects of its space programme.
The state corporation is now responsible for space exploration, the development of rocket and space products, regulation, the coordination of global positioning system GLONASS, the management of Baikonur and Vostochny launch sites, and international collaboration with other space nations, including Russia’s role with the International Space Station.