Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency/conglomerate Roscosmos, has formally confirmed that Russia will be leaving the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025. Russia is known to be working on its own space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and will be joining with China to form a new Lunar surface base. Rogozin noted that negotiations for a handover of the remaining parts of the Russian segment of the ISS is underway, assuming that NASA, ESA and JAXA want to carry on with the ISS beyond 2025.
The Russian modules on the station, whose construction was initially begun in 1998, are showing their age. The Zvezda module, which was launched in 2000, has small but growing cracks which have caused air leaks. These have been repaired via the addition of drilled holes at each end of each crack to stop their growth, and they have now been sealed. Nevertheless, concern remains that these and other age related problems will continue. Russia is planning to launch its new Nauka module (aka the Multipurpose Laboratory Module) in July. This will replace the Pirs module.
The International Space Station (ISS). Courtesy: NASA
