MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia remains a leading space power and sets ambitious goals, Roscosmos First Deputy Director Yury Urlichich said at the 43rd Korolyov Academic Readings on Tuesday.
"The Energia Corporation can bring space tourism to a whole new level without, let's say, docking with the International Space Station [ISS]," Urlichich said.
"The new technological era would be impossible without space and this development sector. New projects are pending, such as the Sfera satellite cluster and the super-heavy [launch vehicle], which should have not just one, or two but more uses. We also need to decide whether the moon is just an intermediate stop or whether we'll go there to stay, and where to go next: either to asteroids or to Mars," Urlichich said.
"There have been frequent discussions about whether or not Russia is a leading space power. Let me give you a couple of examples. Who can bring cosmonauts to space? Only us and the Chinese. Plus, the Chinese transport no one but themselves, while we give rides to the whole world. We have been the only ones who have been making money on manned space missions for decades. We are the only ones who provide space tours," Urlichich said.
"We've been slipping a little bit, but I believe that the Energia Corporation can summon its strength and bring tourism to a whole new level, by giving tourists a ride down what they call the cosmic path without, let's say, docking with the ISS," he said.