Russia’s new space ambitions


DECRYPTION – Moscow has forged an alliance with China to settle on the Moon and conquer Mars.

The rapid successes of SpaceX have shaken European and American historical players. But not only. The Russian Proton launcher, which formed a global duopoly with the European rocket Ariane 5, has also been weakened. In manned spaceflight, the commissioning of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in May 2020 restored the United States’ autonomy to reach the International Space Station (ISS), to the detriment of Soyuz. This had been in a monopoly situation since 2011 and the shutdown of the American shuttle.

The emergence of SpaceX, the launch of the American return program to the Moon Artemis and plans to conquer Mars have prompted Russia to review its strategy, in order to remain a great space nation.

Beyond the tourist flights to the ISS – stay of the Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa in December 2021 and filming of the first film with a Russian actress last October -, Russia has taken significant initiatives. Last summer, Moscow announced its withdrawal from the ISS by 2025…

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