Operation of ISS Russian segment extended until 2028

MOSCOW. April 12 (Interfax) - The Russian government has extended the operation of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) until 2028, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

"The operation of the International Space Station has been extended until 2028 at the government's decision," Borisov said.

Roscosmos said on April 6 it had proposed that the government extend the operation of the ISS Russian segment until 2028.

The corporation said that the decision had been discussed and approved by its Scientific and Technical Council on February 21 and by the state commission on March 24.

Energia Corporation General Designer for Manned Spacecraft Vladimir Solovyov said that Russian specialists had done a lot over the past two years to repair the Russian segment and the station's condition allowed for continuing its use until 2028.

Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Space Programs Sergei Krikalev said in an interview with Interfax in December 2022 that the corporation had submitted documents to the government for extending operation of the ISS Russian segment at least until 2028.

He said later that the government asked Roscosmos for additional materials to support the technical capacity for extending operation of the ISS.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on October 24, 2022, that the government deemed it possible to continue the ISS operation until 2028.

The current agreement on operation of the ISS expires in 2024. Russia said it was planning to quit the project after 2024 but did not specify the exact date.

Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said earlier that Russia's withdrawal from the ISS project should be synchronized with the start of deployment of a new Russian space station.