MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The proposal to establish a Russian national orbiting space station to replace the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024 will most likely be debated by the government next spring, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday.
"Within the field of view is the idea proposed by our scientists to create a national orbital space station instead of the ISS. But this is a pending issue associated with political and technical issues. It will be probably decided in spring 2017," Rogozin told reporters.
"The draft space activity strategy was reported by [Roscosmos State Corporation head Igor] Komarov. The government needs to adopt the strategy in the next three months," he told reporters.
Russia-US work on the International Space Station beyond 2024 will depend on Moscow’s cooperation with the new US administration, the deputy prime minister said.
"Much will depend on the political moments in relations with the Americans, with the new administration. It will be discussed," he said.