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The head of the Russian Space Agency said on Saturday that it would not accept a second-tier role in a NASA project to build an outpost near the moon, but Roscosmos spokesman quickly clarified that Russia
Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, quoted by Russian news agencies, said Russia would not be reduced to a junior partner in the NASA-led project to build the lunar orbital platform called Gateway in the 2020s.
"I think that Russia can not afford to participate in the project of other countries on second-tier roles," said TchO Rogozin, questioned on the catwalk during a meeting with young engineers from the space.
He noted that Russia was working to develop heavy rockets that would allow it to build its own orbital platform near the moon, possibly in cooperation with some BRICS countries – a group including Brazil, China, the United States, and the United States. India and South Africa with Russia.
An interpretation of the Deep Space Gateway that orbits the moon if successful. Courtesy of image: NASA
A few hours later, Roscosmos spokesman Vladimir Ustimenko said Rogozin did not mean Russia was giving up the NASA-led project.
"Russia has not refused to participate in the lunar orbital station project with the United States," Ustimenko said, quoted by Tass. He added that "we are in favor of egalitarian partnership type cooperation".
Earlier this month, Rogozine expressed dismay that an air leak detected at the International Space Station was a borehole that occurred during manufacture or in orbit.
He did not say whether he suspected the current crew of three Americans, two Russians and one German aboard the station.
Rogozin, who served as deputy prime minister for military and space affairs until May, had long been known for his impetuous style and anti-Western rhetoric.
It has failed to stem the decline of Russian space industries, which have been hampered by launch failures and other problems.
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