Russia to cut spacecraft design times by 30% - Deputy PM Manturov

MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - The task of creating small and medium-sized satellites to be assembled on conveyer belts would cut spacecraft design times by 30%, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said.

"I would like to note the strategic task of small and medium-sized satellite production switching from the staple to the flowline assembly principle. Enterprises, including those included in the national project, should cut design times for the product by 30%," Manturov said during a State Duma government Q&A session on Tuesday.

Roscosmos is also implementing a robotics program to develop the space industry, key enterprises are undergoing technological audits, he said. "This enables us to detect weaknesses and make informed decisions about modernization. As well as introducing robotized solutions, this is about automating processes at every stage of a life cycle," Manturov said.

Russia will increase the number of satellite launches into orbit, Manturov said on September 6. Efforts are underway to compile orders for loading Russia's first satellite assembly conveyor belt at a facility of the Reshetnev enterprise, he said on September 4.

Russia's Cosmos national project will launch from January 1, 2026, Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Bakanov said on July 16.

The government will allocate 4.4 trillion rubles for the project until 2036, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on June 6.