Russian Space Plans

Russia announced its long range space plans this week, and they are ambitious. They include a new launch facility, which is already being built, a new, larger launcher to replace the Proton rocket, a new six-person spacecraft to replace the three-person Soyuz, and unmanned probes to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. The Jupiter mission would be Russia's first venture beyond Mars.

The centerpiece of the plan, however, is a manned lunar landing by 2030. Sixty years after the Space Race, then, Russia would seek to close the deal. Russia is also considering putting a space station into lunar orbit by 2030.

Newly-elected Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear for years that he wants to return Russia to Great Power status. The new space plan is certainly worthy of a leading nation-- and worthy of Russia's historic role in space. The question might be whether Russia's still emerging economy can grow quickly enough to support such ambitions.