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Russia has announced a timeline for building and deploying its space station modules, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, aims to create a four-module core by 2030.

This new station will enable Russia to perform research and development that was previously impossible on the International Space Station (ISS) due to constraints and international agreements.

For decades, the ISS has been a symbol of international cooperation in space exploration. But recently, there have been cracks in the Russia collaboration for various reasons, including the Ukraine invasion.

Back in 2022, Russia first announced plans to launch a space station in the low-Earth orbit. Reportedly, this planned outpost is named the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS).

Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos, announced recently the ambitious construction schedule of the space station. The first module, for science and power, is targeted for launch in 2027. Three more modules will be added by 2030 with another two by 2033. Around 19 companies will contribute to the construction of this space station.

Building the station is just one part of the project. Russia also needs to develop new crewed spacecraft and upgrade its launch infrastructure.

Reuters reported Roscosmos stating that this new station will solve problems of scientific and technological development, national economy and national security that are not available on the Russian segment of the ISS due to technological limitations and the terms of international agreements.

Russia has been a major partner of the ISS since its construction began in the 1990s. This collaboration is significant because its one of the few areas where Russia and the US still work closely together.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, relations between Russia and the West, have deteriorated significantly.

Russia initially planned to leave the ISS partnership by the end of 2024. However, they have decided to extend it until 2028.

One of the key reasons cited for leaving the ISS is the increasing maintenance needs of its modules. Some Russian modules have been in operation for nearly 25 years, exceeding their original design lifespan of 15 years.

In an interview published by the Russian space agency in 2022, Russia stated cosmonauts spend more time fixing and repairing the aging modules, leaving less time for conducting scientific research, a major purpose of the space station.

Last year, the Russian space program faced a major setback when their Luna-25 mission to the Moon failed to land. This touch-down was important as it was the first lunar mission for the country in over 47 years. Despite this, Russia is determined to remain a major player in space exploration.

Will Russia succeed in building its space station? Only time will tell. But one things for sure, the race for space station dominance is heating up.

China is one major player, which has its orbital station up and functional. Tiangong is not yet as massive as the ISS, but its steadily growing. At present, the orbital station consists of three modules. It is being built in stages, with different portions launched individually before docking together in space.

For the US, commercial firms are gearing up to fill the void of ISS and continue microgravity research for the nation. One such firm, California-based Vast Space has already announced a timeline to launch their Haven-1 module on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2025.

The race clearly suggests that there will be 3 to 4 space stations orbiting in the low-Earth orbit in the coming years.

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Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her professional experience encompasses both broadcast and digital media, enabling her to learn a variety of storytelling formats. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.

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Russia to exit ISS, build own four-module space station by 2030 - Interesting Engineering