Russia offers BRICS Nations Special module at Orbital Station

Russia is proposing creating a specialized module at the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) which would allow members to conduct their scientific research.

“I would like to invite BRICS partners to consider the opportunity to take part in this project and, by joining forces, create a full-fledged module that, being part of the ROS, would allow the BRICS countries to use the possibilities of low Earth orbit to implement their national space programs,” said Yury Borisov, general director of Roscosmos said at a meeting of the joint committee on cooperation in the field of space of the BRICS countries.

ROS will be the next step in the development of manned astronautics, he said.

Russia has earlier offered African countries to participate in the ROS project and the creation of national modules for this station. Borisov clarified that Russia is open to cooperation with other countries as well.

Moscow is considering the creation of a new national station to replace the International Space Station.

The first stage of the formation of the ROS is scheduled for 2027-2030, the construction is planned to be completed in 2032. Preliminary design of the ROS will be ready this year.

On April 10, Andrey Elchaninov, First Deputy General Director of Roscosmos, said in an interview with Interfax that the construction of the Roscosmos was tentatively estimated at more than 600 billion rubles. According to him, the specific amount will be known based on the results of the preliminary design.