Roscosmos not to take sharp steps to leave ISS project before 2024

HUSTON. Aug 4 (Interfax) - Roscosmos will determine the date of its withdrawal from the International Space Station (ISS) project based on the analysis of the technical state of the station, it may be 2025 or 2030, Roscosmos Executive Director for Crewed Space Programs Sergei Krikalyov said.

"As to the statement about 2024, it's the translation, but what was said about Russia's withdrawal after 2024 means that there will be no sharp steps before 2024. Year 2025 is after 2024, 2028 is also after 2024, and so is 2030. A specific decision on withdrawal will be made based on its technical condition," Krikalyov told a press conference on Thursday.

On July 29, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said that after 2024 Russia will begin its withdrawal from the ISS project, but the exact date will be determined taking into account the technical condition of the space station. That said, the completion of the work on the ISS and the start of the new Russian station's work, should definitely be synchronized, Borisov said then.

Earlier, on July 26, Borisov said that Russia will withdraw from the ISS project after 2024, by which time the deployment of a national space station will begin. The construction of Russia's own space station will be a key priority in Roscosmos's piloted space exploration efforts, Borisov said.