MOSCOW. Aug 31 (Interfax-AVN) - The program of Moon exploration developed by specialists of the Energia space rocket corporation provides for the use of existing technologies.
"During the first stage of the moon exploration, when Russian spacecraft are to orbit the planet and land on it, we may use existing technologies, i.e. the in-service launch vehicles and the modernized Soyuz spaceship," Energia President Nikolai Sevastyanov said during the 5th International Aerospace Congress in Moscow on Thursday.
According to him, the first stage of the program can be put in action as early as 2010-2011. "During the second stage we are going to deploy a permanent base on the Moon, and add a space station to its orbit," he said.
The third stage envisages the start of industrial exploration of lunar resources.
For instance, the polluting and harmful to nature manufacturing lines are to be re-deployed from the Earth to the Moon. Extraction of lunar natural resources, including helium-3, is likely to start during this stage. A power station based on own resources and plants for production of fuel for interplanetary ships will be built there as well.
Sevastyanov emphasized that the Moon exploration program is the rehearsal of the mission to the Mars.
He said he regrets that the program, although developed, has not been included into the federal space program yet.