Russia cuts funding for the space program – Virtual Poland

• Expenses for the Russian space program will be reduced by 30 percent.
 

 • Manned mission to the Moon will be delayed by at least five years
 

 • Roskosmos must also abandon the construction of a reusable rocket
 

 • The cuts are linked to the economic crisis in Russia
 

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev agreed to cut spending on the Russian space program by 30 percent. – Informs Reuters indicating that it is part of efforts to Taking control over expenditures of the state in the face of a deepening economic crisis. Approving the plan presented in January by the agency Roskosmos, Medvedev instructed to reduce the budget of the space program for the years 2016-2025 of 2 trillion rubles (28.16 billion US dollars) to 1.4 billion (19.71 billion USD).

– This is a great program; we need such large programs, even in situations where not all is well in the economy – quoted Prime TASS.
 

Reuters writes that the space program, yet rooted in the “space race” of the Cold War, Russia is a matter of pride. However, along with other costly projects, such as preparations for the football World Cup in 2018, state support for Roskosmosu victim of the economic recession, fueled by the fall in oil prices and Western sanctions.

In connection with the reduction of funding Roskosmos agreed to delay by five years a manned flight to the moon, which was planned for 2030 years, and to give up plans to construct a reusable rocket.