Russia saving on space research

In April, the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) presented an updated draft of the federal space program for 2016-2025, known as FKP-2025. The revised document calls for the cancellation of a super-heavy launch vehicle and a number of scientific programs, but keeps the plan for a manned flight around the Moon. The space budget has been significantly reduced compared to the previous version of the program: instead of the original 2.85 trillion rubles ($54.3 billion at the current exchange rate) envisaged in the fall of 2014, Roscosmos will only be able to spend 2 trillion.

The program was revised in the light of Russia’s new economic environment. “The cost of the FKP-2015 projects has changed considerably over the past year, taking into account the current economic situation, the changing currency exchange rates and the growing inflation,” Roscosmos head Igor Komarov says. The crisis is to blame: the cost of the projects has grown by 30% on average, whereas the budget funding has decreased.

The good news is that 70% of the space budget will be spent on research and development. In addition, not a single project launched this year will get the ax. “We did not cancel anything planned for 2015,” Komarov stresses. “There is no point in canceling projects which are 70–75% complete.”