The spacewalk by Sergei Prokopiev and Dmitry Petelin is scheduled for April 19, with TASS citing Roscosmos on the plan.
During the period from April 7 to 9, the Russian segment of the space station completed preparatory work for spacewalk VKD-56 according to the Russian schedule, with the activity set for April 19, according to the official report from Roscosmos.
Earlier statements from Roscosmos and the Russian Academy of Sciences discussed the development of flight plans to Mars following a withdrawal of cooperation from the European Space Agency. Roscosmos emphasized that the loss of the ExoMars-2022 mission does not derail Russia’s long-term Mars ambitions. The agency also noted ESA’s plans to launch a rover independently in 2028, which would come two to four years after the ExoMars-2022 timeline had anticipated.
In closing, the government agency extended well wishes to ESA, underscoring a respectful stance despite the differences in collaboration and program timelines.
Sources close to Roscosmos and the Russian Academy of Sciences indicate that Russia remains committed to pursuing Mars exploration. The space agency continues to assess technical, scientific, and international partnership options as it advances its own plans while acknowledging ESA’s renewed roadmap for Martian exploration and a potential joint or parallel path for future missions. This stance reflects a broader strategic posture toward international cooperation in space after recent program adjustments.