Russian government under the leadership of Vlladmir Putin has announced plans to allocate more fund tothe Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos in order to expand its ExoMars project in cooperation with the European Space Agency, ESA.
The decision of the Government of the Russian Federation to allocate additional funds for the development of the space industry will allow to provide the necessary funding for basic space research in such areas as:
- Lunar research;
- Studies of astrophysical objects in the ultraviolet and visible electromagnetic spectrum;
- Studies of Venus.
In addition, the funding will be provided within the joint ExoMars project with the European Space Agency to study Mars. The first spacecraft was launched in 2016, the second is to be launched in 2022. At the same time, this will ensure fulfilling the scientific research program via the X-ray space observatory (the Spektr-RG spacecraft).
Dmitry Rogozin, Roscosmos Director General: ‘The adoption of the Russian Federation Government’s order to allocate additional funds to Roscosmos from the reserve fund will allow fulfilling President Vladimir Putin’s assignment and create the necessary conditions for solving tasks under the fundamental space research program at the level of the leading space agencies.
The funds will be used in full, the industrial enterprises will receive them this year under the contracts already signed and implemented.