In a formal briefing that followed a session with the Russian president, Yury Borisov, head of Roscoscosmos, announced that the government has extended the operation of the Russian segment of the International Space Station through 2028. The official statement, published on Roscosmos channels, emphasizes the continuity of international collaboration in space exploration while ensuring Russia maintains an active presence in the orbital laboratory. The extension underscores a strategic choice to preserve long term access to microgravity research, life support demonstrations, and commercial and scientific partnerships that have evolved since the ISS program began. Source: Roscosmos official communications.
Borisov stressed that the readiness to engage in detailed discussions about a future Russian orbital station comes at a pivotal time. The government’s decision to extend ISS operations to 2028 is viewed as a bridge that allows Russia to plan ahead without interrupting crewed spaceflight activities. He pointed out the importance of maintaining momentum in crewed cosmonautics, alongside ongoing research and technology development missions, to sustain Russia’s leadership in space science. The remarks suggest a phased approach to later space infrastructure, balancing immediate operational needs with long term strategic goals. Source: Roscosmos official communications.
Additionally, the Roscosmos chief indicated that initial planning for a native orbital station project would advance with a target readiness window in the summer of 2023, aligning with program milestones and resource allocation. This timeline reflects the agency’s intent to develop an indigenous platform that could extend Russia’s capabilities in low Earth orbit, support a broad range of experiments, and potentially host international collaboration. The emphasis remains on building a resilient orbital capability that complements ongoing human spaceflight programs and planetary research missions. Source: Roscosmos official communications.
Earlier updates from Roscosmos-related enterprises, including NPO Lavochkin, noted that the Spektr-UF space observatory program encountered scheduling pressures that pushed certain milestones beyond 2028. The Spektr-UF project aims to explore ultraviolet phenomena in the cosmos, offering observations that are not attainable from ground-based facilities. Current work continues to focus on a robust space telescope design, propulsion concepts, and mission integration to ensure the observatory contributes meaningful data to astrophysical studies. The broader context reflects Russia’s commitment to advancing ultraviolet astronomy alongside the extended ISS operations, highlighting an integrated approach to space science and exploration. Source: Roscosmos official communications.