Overview
- Oleg Orlov said the Roscosmos Scientific and Technical Council approved using the Russian ISS segment as the core of a future station, with a special commission developing the plan.
- Russia intends to separate its modules around the ISS retirement near 2030 and then add new elements, after keeping cosmonauts on the ISS through 2028.
- The station is slated for a 51.6-degree inclination to enable launches from Plesetsk and Vostochny, reflecting a move away from reliance on Baikonur following recent pad damage.
- Officials and analysts highlight aging hardware, persistent air leaks in Zvezda, and rising microbial contamination as major risks to long‑term reuse.
- In parallel, Energia secured a patent for a large rotating station to provide artificial gravity, though no funding or timeline has been set.