Russian space agency Roscosmos has unveiled the timeline for creating its own space station, named the Russian orbital station (ROS).
The first module of the Russian orbital station, called the scientific and energy module, is scheduled to launch in 2027, according to Roscosmos stated on July 2, 2024.
The agency also planned to launch the universal node, gateway, and basic modules by 2030 to form the core of the orbital station along with the scientific and energy module.
In the second stage, from 2031 to 2033, the orbital station will be expanded by docking two target modules (DM1 and CM2).
The estimated cost to build the Russian orbital station is about $7 billion USD.
A Russian heavy lift launch vehicle, the Angara A5 rocket, will be used to carry the space station modules into orbit. Currently, the agency is testing the new Angara A5 rocket.
The new orbital station will orbit the earth at the same altitude as the International Space Station (ISS), around 400 km above the earth’s surface.
However, the International Space Station (ISS) travels from west to earth with an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees, while the Russian orbital station will travel from north to south in a sun-synchronous polar orbit with an orbital inclination of 97 degrees.
The major advantage of the Russian orbital station over the ISS is that the new station will have the ability to cover the entire surface of the earth, while the ISS can cover about 60% of the earth’s surface.
The new station will provide national security, which is not available in the Russian segment of the ISS due to technological restrictions and conditions of international agreements.
Russia has a plan to leave the International Space Station (ISS) project in 2028. So the building of its own space station will ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the Russian manned program in low-earth orbit.
Currently, the International Space Station (ISS) is planned to deorbit in 2030. However, the agencies will not want to cease the operation of the ISS until the commercial space stations are ready.
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