2 Introduction
Many people in
various countries are concerned with a question,
what is a real status and prospects of the
Russian space program? Is it going to collapse
soon or will it survive? If it survives, which
way the new Russian space policy may go and how
that would influence a global scene of space
activities?
One immediate
practical aspect of such questions is whether it
is worth relying on cooperation with Russia in
on-going or future projects (if its space
infrastructure is about to collapse)? On the
other hand, is it wise to support it in any form
(if there is a chance for return to
confrontation)?
Difficulties
in answering these and other similar questions
are complicated by problems in obtaining sound
information about what exactly is going on in
Russia and, perhaps the most difficult, in
correctly interpreting the available data, which
are typically scattered and subjective.
This paper
represents an effort to watch the Russian space
program from a close distance, while remaining
independent from its establishment and thus able
to critically analyze official statements and
reasonings behind them.
The paper
considers status of the space activity in Russia,
including:
- financing
of the national space programs;
- operational
status of national space systems;
- situation
in the space industry.
To outline
implications of the above to global space
cooperation and competition, the paper discusses:
- perceived
role of international activities for
survival of the Russian national programs
and;
- internal
political environment for international
space projects, particularly prospects
for drastic changes of a state space
policy after upcoming elections.
2 Status of
space activity in Russia
General
situation in the Russian space program is
determined by two fundamental factors: the end of
the Cold War and on-going eco |