Russia may carry out joint astronautic projects with China – Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin
26 May 2014, 18:50 -- Russia may implement joint astronautic projects with China, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin told journalists. 'As for the period after 2020, Russia may have new astronautic projects with other partners or a broader range of partners,' Rogozin said, speaking about a possible denial to renew the program of the International Space Station (ISS) after 2020.
'We may take on a project with China. We've agreed upon holding negotiations with our Chinese colleagues during the upcoming Universal Exposition in the city of Harbin, China, in June,' Rogozin said. Moreover, Russia may work on some projects with other countries, like India.
As for China, Rogozin said that the country 'is making progress very fast; Russia congratulates its Chinese colleagues with their success in the astronautic sphere.'
Russia still doesn't see any commercial sense in its participation in the ISS project after 2020, as the project requires one third of the budget allotted to the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Dmitry Rogozin told journalists.
'We are not quitting the ISS project. It is to be worked on until 2020 and till this period, Russia will be following its international obligations. Moreover, we are receiving money for the transportation of American astronauts to the ISS. Roscosmos has a reputation and we don't want to risk it,' Rogozin said. 'As for the prolongation of the program after 2020, Russia has many doubts concerning the issue, because the program costs one third of the total budget allotted to Roscosmos and the income is very low,' Rogozin said.
He said that the final proposal to the government will be made by Roscosmos itself. 'At the moment, we don't see any commercial sense in it,' Rogozin said, adding that Russia is ready to consider other conditions.
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