Vladimir Solovyov, General Designer of Manned Programs for the Russian Federation, spoke at a conference marking the 25th anniversary of the International Space Station. He pointed out that Russian cosmonauts have carried out a surprisingly small number of experiments on the ISS because of funding gaps. He urged an end to the practice of funding space research only on a surplus basis, noting that this restraint stifles scientific progress. The statement was reported by Roscosmos communications.
Solovyov emphasized that Russia lags behind leading space nations in the volume of orbital experiments and called for a decisive shift in funding and priorities to boost in-orbit research activity. He argued that sustained investment is essential to keep Russian space science competitive and productive, urging policymakers to treat space research as a priority rather than an afterthought. These remarks echo a broader push for robust, predictable funding for exploration and science, as reported by Roscosmos communications.
According to graphs presented by scientists, Russia currently conducts more experiments than Canada, which performs around 49 scientific studies. The comparison highlights the gap in orbital research outputs among major spacefaring nations and underlines the need for a strategic acceleration of Russia’s in-space experiments. This assessment is based on data shared with officials and researchers, as cited by Roscosmos communications.
The general designer noted that Roscosmos conducts over 204 experiments per year, while the European Space Agency completes about 465, Japan roughly 911, and NASA more than 1.6 thousand. The figures illustrate the scale disparity in annual space research activity among the top agencies and underscore the urgency of increasing Russian experimental throughput, according to Roscosmos communications.
During a spacewalk, cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub worked on preparations associated with a solar sail satellite, marking a key phase in the ongoing experimental program. This activity reflects ongoing efforts to expand in-space testing and demonstration missions that feed back into future mission design and propulsion research. Roscosmos communications notes the significance of such experiments for expanding Russia’s capabilities in solar sail technology.
Historically, Roscosmos has guided the involvement of Russian cosmonauts on the ISS. The current remarks underscore a strategic intent to reassert leadership in space research and ensure a steady pipeline of experiments as the program continues toward the next milestones and year-end goals, as reported by Roscosmos communications.