“Study of the moon is not the goal,” said Vitaly Egorov, a popular Russian space analyst. “The goal is political competition between two superpowers — China and the USA — and a number of other countries which also want to claim the title of space superpower.”
I don’t question Russian science or engineering, but is this project going to run into the same sorts of issues their war has?
Considering levels of corruption in the last few years and hard brain drain I guess Russian space exploration is doomed. Thanks, Putin!
Roscosmos has been one of the better run Russian agencies, mostly due to the fact that they’re using old but extremely proven technology from the Soviet era
I think this mission is their desperate attempt to have a success so Putin doesn’t draft half their workforce and tell the rest to start launching Soyuz rockets at Ukranian preschools
Except the time when Rogozin was in charge, at least.
Foe years America used Russian rockets to get things into space.
“Russian components, American components… ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!”
People, not things. America didn’t have man-rated rockets between 2012 and 2020.