Yuri Borisov, the head of the Russian State Space Corporation (ROSCOSMOS), extended a proposal to Brazil, India, China and South Africa, members of BRICS, during a meeting on Monday in South Africa, to participate in the construction of a joint module for the planned Russian Orbital Station (ROS) to allow BRICS countries to conduct scientific research, CNN reports.
According to reports, Mr Borisov was quoted saying, “I would like to propose that our partners in BRICS consider the opportunity to take part in this project and create a full-fledged module through joint efforts, which would enable BRICS countries, as part of the ROS project, to use the opportunity offered by low near-Earth orbit to implement their respective national space programs.”
He was also reported to have earlier said that Russia had offered African countries the opportunity to create national modules and participate in the ROS project and that Russia was open to cooperation within the framework of the new station, not just with African nations but with other countries as well.
He added that the ROS project would be the next step to developing a piloted spacecraft. The new space station would consist of six modules and a service platform to accommodate up to four cosmonauts and be built in two phases. The first stage of the planned space station, the Russian Orbital System (ROS), is expected to be launched in 2027, with another four modules dispatched to orbit between 2028 and 2030. Currently, the Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) Energia is conducting a preliminary design for a new station, which should be completed in 2023.
