Moscow - (Saba):
Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, announced that the agency plans to build the first nuclear power plant on the Moon and work on exploring Venus.
Sputnik news agency quoted Bakanov, speaking on the Telegram channel about the projects Roscosmos is working on, as saying: "The tasks assigned to our agency include the creation of a new Russian orbital station to replace the International Space Station."
He continued: "Establishing the first nuclear power plant on the surface of the Moon to serve as the basis for future lunar bases... We also plan to explore Venus, as we are the only country to have launched a spacecraft and landed on this planet."
He added: "We also plan to expand our satellite constellation to increase the speed of satellite broadband internet and ensure coverage of all parts of our country with these services. We also plan to increase the accuracy of the GLONASS navigation system and improve the capabilities of domestic rockets and spacecraft."
He concluded: "Great goals lie ahead. We must implement projects that require courage, broad thinking, and engineering genius."
Russia and China have announced plans to build a scientific station on the Moon in cooperation with several countries. In 2021, the Russian space agency Roscosmos signed an agreement with China to this effect.
As part of the station project, China is expected to send a satellite. Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 will also be launched to the Moon. Russia is also expected to launch several lunar orbiters and lunar surface exploration vehicles.