Russia to launch own orbital station soon after 2025

On Tuesday, Russia’s space agency announced that it is getting ready to launch its own orbital station in 2025 as Moscow considers pulling out from the International Space Station (ISS) program to go it alone, according to international reports.

In a statement on Telegram by Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozins, he revealed that work had begun on the first proposal of a new station, after officials warned that Russia was considering pulling out of the (ISS), one of the most successful examples of cooperation with the West.

“The first core module of the new Russian orbital station is in the works,” the statement added

In the same context, Rogozins indicated that Russia’s Energia space corporation was aiming to have the module “ready for launch” in 2025 and released a video of Energia staff at work.

The decision also came with tensions soaring over espionage claims, a Russian troop build-up along Ukraine’s borders, and the deteriorating health of President Vladimir Putin’s imprisoned critic Alexei Navalny.

Last week, Alexander Sergeev, the president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said: "Russia will have to terminate its participation in the (ISS) project due to worn-out technical conditions, but will create its own Orbital Service Station after 2025"