Russia’s space agency Roscosmos is investigating how to send its astronauts to the Chinese space station, starting with locations in Russia or French Guiana, to deepen the relationship between the two countries’ space agencies in the future.
At a press conference at the recently concluded Global Space Research Conference (GLEX) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 15, Dmitry Rogozin, Director General of Roscosmos, revealed that Russia is in talks with China about flights to the Chinese space station. Rogozin, in response to a question from Aviation Week magazine that he could launch cargoes or personnel to China’s new orbital position, said that They plan to send astronauts to the Chinese station.
The China Space Station (CSS) is expected to be completed in 2022 and will have a permanent staff of at least 10 years. This may be the only goal of international astronauts in low Earth orbit, as the future of the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024 is unclear.
Russia plans to transfer a crew to the Chinese space station, either from Vostochny or perhaps after an adjustment in Kourou for the Soyuz crew. Tweet embed Says Tweet embed at #GLEX2021 Press Conference
– Erin Klotz (Free_Space) June 15, 2021