Russian Scientists Begin Work on New Mission.

 

MOSCOW: Russia's Rocket and Space Corporation Energy has begun work on a new multi-purpose space station that will consist of three to seven unmanned modules.

Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos has said it plans to discuss the operational age of the ISS with NASA early next year.

The space station will consist of three to seven unmanned modules or a crew of two to four people, according to Vladimir Solov, Energy's first deputy general designer.

Speaking at a conference of the Russian Academy of Sciences on space affairs, Solov expressed concern about the inefficiency of the International Space Station (ISS).

Solov, who is also the flight director of ISS Russia, said the station could be operational by 2025 and could cost 10-15 billion rubles (2 132.198 million) to maintain.

The corporation is currently awaiting proposals from Energy to build a new national space station, which will be considered first at the Roscosmos Scientific and Technical Council and then reported to the government.