Putin Approves Project for Russian Space Station, Set to Launch First Segment in 2027

Despite a number of recent setbacks, Russia is pressing forward to establish a continuing presence in space amidst concerns about the aging International Space Station and the country's own space program's perceived lack of momentum.

Vladimir Putin approved a project to build a Russian Orbital Station, aiming to launch the first segment in 2027. Despite recent setbacks, Russia intends to maintain its presence in space exploration.
The decision to build a standalone Russian space station comes amidst concerns about the aging International Space Station (ISS) and the perceived lack of momentum in Russia's human spaceflight program.
There are concerns of a potential gap in Russia's space presence if the ISS retires before Russia's new station is operational. Yuri Borisov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, stressed the importance of maintaining continuity in Russia's space program.
The timeline for the construction and launching of Russia's space station is ambitious, with the first segment set for launch in 2027, followed by additional segments between 2028 and 2030. The first crew is planned to be launched six months after the first module's initiation.
Despite the failed Luna-25 mission, Russia's lunar program will continue, treating setbacks as learning curves for future missions. There's a possibility that the next lunar launch could be moved to 2026 from the planned 2027.