Russia's priority goals include strengthening its position in space and maintaining its leadership as a space power. First of all, it is necessary to focus on the production and launch of satellites to create orbital groups, notes First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov. At the same time, it will be difficult for the state to develop this area alone; private initiative is needed. In a blitz interview on the sidelines of SPIEF-2024, he also spoke about Russia's long-term plans in space, including a nuclear tug, renaming the SJ-100, and the Russian-Qatari intergovernmental commission. Interviewed by Natalia Miroshnichenko.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum takes place from June 5 to 8. — information partner of the forum.
— Denis Valentinovich, you said that among your priority plans as First Deputy Prime Minister is strengthening your position in space. What is the balance of power now: who are the leaders and what place are we in?
— Unfortunately, we are not the first in terms of orbital constellations – communications satellites and remote sensing of the Earth. We need to produce and launch them very intensively today, creating and expanding these groups. Moreover, it will be difficult for the state to do this alone. Here, just recently, a law on public-private partnership in the field of space activities was adopted. We very much hope that private owners will more actively develop this area; we will assist and assist in every possible way.
The state, in turn, represented by Roscosmos, either alone or with industrial private partners, should primarily deal with launches. Today this competence is in the area of responsibility of Roscosmos. The task is to create reusable rockets for this purpose, so that these launches are cost-effective. And the presence of our own space orbital station, which must be in Russia in order for us to maintain leadership as a space power.
— Is the goal worthwhile to become the first?
— The goal is to keep up and try to reach new milestones. In terms of quantity, we have a clear program for communications satellites and constellations.
— When is the first launch of the Russian manned mission to the Moon possible?
— Roscosmos has a program, and we are following it; another question is that the areas that I just voiced are not only strategic in nature, but also a priority. As for deep space exploration, including international cooperation, and a nuclear tug for delivering cargo to distant planets, this is a task for the future. Here I would not give exact dates; let Roscosmos indicate them independently.
— Last year you said that the possibility of changing the name of SJ-100 to Russian is being considered. Recently, the head of Rostec confirmed that there will be a renaming. Will the plane be named “Yakovlev”, or has the final decision not been made yet?
— The final point has not yet been set, but we are already leaning toward the final version, which we will probably announce in the near future.
— At this SPIEF you are in a new position, now also heading the Russian side of the intergovernmental commission with Qatar. Is there already an understanding of when the IPC might take place?
—I think that first our colleagues should confirm their counterparts on their part, and after that we will soon get in touch to organize a bilateral meeting and determine period of both consultation and holding a full-fledged inter-legal commission.
— What are the main areas of cooperation with this country you see?
— We have with all countries, if we talk about the IPC on social economic and trade cooperation – a wide range of interaction. Therefore, we will formulate an agenda for cooperation with Qatar in those areas where we see new growth points.
Recent Comments