Russian Space Industry & its Scientists

A backlogged topic and a long read.

Vladimir Putin at the Rocket and Space Plant S.P. Korolev Energia Corporation

It’s unfortunate the video of Putin’s visit to this strategic complex wasn’t made public; only a series of 14 photos was provided along with the following description:

The head of state was informed on the implementation of the federal project "Sphere" and the organization of serial production Spacecraft. The goal of the project is to create multi-satellite constellations, which will provide broadband Internet access, the development of satellite communications and remote sensing of the Earth. Among the exhibits presented at the exhibition are the Skif-D and IoT Marathon spacecraft.

Next President inspected samples of engines of small spacecraft, mock-ups of promising reusable launch vehicles, including the Amur LNG", as well as the Transport Power Module, a new interorbital tug based on a nuclear propulsion system. His The creation will make it possible to solve a wide range of tasks, including the delivery of cargo to the orbit of the Moon and the fight against debris in the Earth's orbit.

In addition, at the exhibition The latest integrated system for monitoring near-Earth space was presented The Milky Way, as well as promising space developments and Russian private services companies.

What’s new is provided in that last phase, “Russian private services companies” as Roscosmos is no longer a 100% public utility. As with UAVs, this development is proving to be an overall plus as it provides more opportunities to the many scientists being produced by Russia’s engineering universities. After the tour, a meeting about the future development of Russia’s space industry ensued with Putin leading with the following remarks:

Vladimir Putin: Dear colleagues, good evening!

Today we will discuss new steps and plans for the development of the domestic rocket and space industry. First of all, we will focus on using our own sovereign resources and joint international developments to unlock the potential of using near-space and near-Earth orbit, and more effectively use our rocket and space industry as a resource for developing our economy, our regions, and creating fundamentally new opportunities for the citizens of the Russian Federation.

So, in a short period of time, we need to significantly expand the availability of key space services for citizens, businesses, and authorities at all levels – I mean covering the entire territory of our country with high-quality communications, as well as geoinformation products and technologies in the field of remote sensing of the Earth. Such services open the way for more efficient solutions to environmental and climate problems, for the development of our territories and the expansion of transport and logistics corridors, including the Northern Sea Route.

I would also like to add that the use of space services significantly increases the dynamics of development, the potential of companies and entire sectors of the economy. This includes such promising industries as robotics, the data economy, and driverless transport.

I would like to note that we are already working in the field of unmanned aircraft systems within the framework of a corresponding national project. Such a comprehensive mechanism significantly increases the effectiveness of joint efforts to form this new sector of the domestic economy, and ensures cross-sectoral consideration of its development issues. And, of course, the national project allows us to bring together the unique competencies of our scientific and engineering schools, the resources of the state and private business, the education and training system.

I consider it necessary to use the same approaches in the development of the space sector of the domestic economy. In this regard, I ask the Government to develop and approve the relevant national project by July 1, 2024, and aim it at creating a powerful sovereign domestic industry of space services, technologies and products. When developing such a project, it is important to specify the goals as much as possible, identify clear tasks that can be solved with the help of space, the parameters of space services provided to consumers, build clear rules that meet the challenges of the time, a modern regulatory framework, and reduce regulatory barriers. We have already met with young specialists from the industry, and several questions were raised on this topic – about reducing regulatory barriers.

And, of course, we need effective steps that will make domestic services high-quality and globally competitive.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the new national project should be built on the basis of modern financial and organizational mechanisms, including diversification of funding sources and attraction of extra-budgetary funds to the space sector. To do this, it is necessary to offer effective incentives for expanding the participation of private companies in the development of the domestic space industry.

Dear colleagues!

In such close cooperation between the state and business, it is necessary to multiply the composition of the current Russian orbital grouping in the shortest possible time, and to ensure the creation and operation of our own, as experts call it, multi-satellite groups.

What, in my opinion, is necessary for this?

First. This is the establishment of mass production of spacecraft, the transition to conveyor assembly. Yuri Ivanovich [Borisov] and I raised this topic in our conversations on the development of Russian cosmonautics and space exploration.

I know that both Roscosmos and private companies – only now representatives of these companies have also talked about this-are carrying out such work. I ask the Government to think about how to accelerate the development of our production capabilities in this area as much as possible.

In general, it is important to maximize the potential of private business, expand its access to test sites and other infrastructure necessary for the production and testing of satellites and their components, which will certainly speed up the path from innovation to mass product.

Second. We need to significantly, or rather radically, reduce the cost of delivering spacecraft to low-Earth orbit, create the necessary infrastructure for mass satellite launches, including small spacecraft, and provide access to it for private technology companies.

I would like to emphasize that this is an essential condition for the accelerated and accelerated development of the space services market. These issues need to be taken into account, including in the framework of work on the creation of our new rocket technology.

The third. In order to attract investment in the creation of orbital clusters and ensure the payback of such large projects, it is necessary to clearly understand what specific products – data, communication services, and other services – will be required by public and private customers not only today, but also in the future.

In essence, we are talking about forming a long-term order for space services. Therefore, I consider it necessary to provide for and record the use of such services in government programs, infrastructure development plans, as well as in regions, industries, and even individual enterprises. And of course, the requirements of customers, and therefore the quality of services provided, must constantly grow.

And in this regard, the fourth. As in all other sectors of the economy, the space sector should strive to develop competition, set up market mechanisms, and create real opportunities for private companies in the space sector to compete for government orders.

Now it is quite difficult for them to get there, largely because government agencies, as a rule, receive services and products of Roscosmos free of charge, for nothing. And of course, this practice distorts competition, deprives Roscosmos itself of the motivation to work on improving the quality of products. Therefore, I suggest that we think about providing Roscosmos services on a paid basis, and that the funds received should also be used for the development of satellite constellations.

Fifth. Today, the markets of Asia, Africa,and Latin America are developing more and more actively. Our partners from the CIS, Eurasec, SCO, BRICS and other associations also have large-scale socio-economic plans. They are ready to form new segments of the economy and increase their technological potential. And of course, Russia should support this aspiration, and we have a lot to offer here. Therefore, I consider it important to develop more actively the export of our space products and services. I ask the Government to submit specific proposals for further organization of such work.

Dear colleagues!

Now I would like to mention a key component of the national project announced today to develop the space sector of the domestic economy, and indeed all our work in the field of cosmonautics. We are talking, of course, about personnel, about the training of scientists, designers, engineers, and workers, for whom our space industry has always been famous.

We should offer competitive solutions aimed at improving all levels of education in the space sector, including taking into account the emergence of fundamentally new professions and technological directions. At the same time, conditions should be created so that schoolchildren, students, and young people in general can participate in real projects and solve applied problems. Among other things, we need to expand our existing program for assembling so-called school satellites and launch the corresponding program in colleges and universities. It is a good idea to create student design bureaus and enable universities to carry out R & D in the field of space. And of course, we need to step up educational activities so that our new, young, young generation dreams of connecting their lives with cosmonautics, with work in this area of the future.

(To Yu.To Borisov.) Yuri Ivanovich, now a young man has proposed to hold annual competitions in the field of innovations in the space field. I think we need to support it, it can be a very interesting story.

Of course, all the components of supporting young space professionals are also important, including raising their salaries and solving housing issues. Listen, I just looked at the documents before our meeting – in the regional dimension, the salary of enterprises in the space industry is below the average level. To be honest, this is quite unexpected for me. Lower than the regional average for the economy. I understand that such issues can't be resolved with the kondachka, but still, industry leaders and the Government as a whole should pay attention to this. By the way, and on housing: we have a large set of [categories] of mortgage benefits - employees of the space industry do not fall into any of them. And this is despite the fact that the salary, say, is quite modest. So we can't keep the cadres here. I ask the Government to prepare additional measures in this regard.

I would like to note that we have just discussed all these issues with young specialists and scientists working in the rocket and space industry. It is especially valuable that they inherited – and I want to emphasize this – the most important qualities from the creators of our cosmonautics-to achieve great goals, to serve the Fatherland. They are passionate about their work, and we need to cherish such people and keep them in the industry.

Our colleagues called the creation of the Russian Space Station a new significant step in our country's space exploration. I agree that we need to make quick decisions on this issue. Everyone here, almost everyone knows what this is all about, but I will tell you anyway. In November of this year, the International Space Station, which is currently operating in orbit, turns a quarter of a century, and according to initial plans, it would have completed its mission next year. Since the operation of the ISS is unlikely to be possible without our Russian competencies, we have extended our participation in the project until 2028.

Obviously, this is only a temporary, interim solution. And Russia, as one of the leading space powers, should look far ahead, take into account the tasks of our sovereign long-term development and, of course, ensuring national security. That is why our specialists have started developing the tactical and technical characteristics of our own, Russian orbital station.

Without a doubt, projects of this level should take into account all the advanced achievements of science and technology, and have the potential to meet the challenges of the future. So, as for our orbital station itself, it is designed to become an outpost of Russia for exploring and conquering the universe. Of course, it should, as we have just discussed with industry leaders, ensure our interests in both security and economy as much as possible, I mean these 51.6 degrees near the ISS, and our [station] – you suggest [an angle of inclination to the equator] of 96 [degrees]. And then it will cover almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation…

Vladimir Solovyov: Absolutely everything.

Vladimir Putin: Absolutely everything. Of course, this is fundamentally important for us, and the impact of her work will be completely different.

Today, I propose to discuss in detail both promising and applied tasks that can be solved using the station's potential, as well as key financial and technical aspects of the implementation of this large-scale project.

Let's get started. Please give the floor to the head of Roscosmos, Yuri Ivanovich Borisov.

Unfortunately, we aren’t allowed to read the entire discussion, so we must go by what was revealed. But enough is revealed to see how Russia now goes about its dynamical process of integrating public utilities with private companies to expand the overall range of products and services. Now the conversation will involve those young scientists Putin mentioned several times. As is usual for Putin, their discussion preceded the one with the government and industry and the results can be read in Putin’s ideas and policy suggestions. As is usual with Putin’s interactions in this format, the discussion is longer than his speeches.

Vladimir Putin: Hello!

Part of the "tour" is over, and in this part I hope to listen to suggestions, some ideas for the development of the industry itself.

I see very young people here, but all of you are already working in this very interesting and promising area, without which not only development, but the life of humanity will soon become completely impossible, and the existence of individual countries, their status on the world stage, and the quality of development of countries without space is impossible.

All this is getting more and more interesting, bigger and more exciting.

I have just looked at a mathematical model of what will happen in space in 2030, and it is already such a shock. If today the leaders of Energia and other experts say that today the ISS has to be adjusted twice a year, then by 2030 individual spacecraft will have to be adjusted twice a day, because such a huge number of them appear, and all of them are not just like that, not counting garbage, but they do what they are supposed to do."that's the problem. "Some" -this is figuratively speaking. They perform important tasks-communication, Earth sensing, and so on.

Your industry is high-tech, very specific and complex. Therefore, I hope that our dialogue will not be limited to questions and answers, because I am unlikely to be able to answer specific questions. But to listen to your suggestions, your ideas about how, in your opinion, to better organize the work of the industry, what is considered the most important and most promising, what needs to be helped by the state, and what else needs to be done – I hope that we will talk in this vein. This is all the more important before the meeting, which we will have immediately after the meeting with you.

You are welcome.

Alexey Volyntsev: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

I am Andrey Volyntsev, Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists of the Roscosmos State Corporation, Head of the Department of TsENKI JSC, branch of the Research Institute of PM named after Academician V. I. Kuznetsov. Today I will help moderate the meeting.

Thank you for a very good installation. On behalf of our youth, I would like to thank you for taking the time to meet us. We know that you don't have much of it, and that is why it is very valuable for us that you are here today.

I suggest that you do not linger and immediately give the floor to the owner of the site. Anton Kulikov, RSC Energia.

Alexander Kulikov: Hello!

Anton Kulikov, RSC Energia, engineer.

I will start with such a complex issue as the bureaucratic burden on the industry.

Now the world space industry is developing rapidly. The best example is the development of automatic devices. Previously, we made individual products, but now there is already a need for groups of hundreds of satellites. In such conditions, the functioning of large groups as a whole is more important, and the functioning of individual apparatuses is already taking a back seat.

Modern standards lack the flexibility to focus attention on some critical elements and relax control where it is permissible. Now, due to an overabundance of control, both the timing and cost of projects suffer, and the transition to the technology industry and companies from related industries is difficult.

I would like to note that this is not only typical for automatic vehicles, but also for manned astronautics. There are many more critical elements here, but there are still problems and things to work on.

I believe that the time has come to meet with leading developers of rocket and space technology and discuss and update the current regulatory framework. It should be the core around which the work is built, and not the proverbial stick in the wheel.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: The question is what? Or is it a suggestion?

A. Kulikov: It was a suggestion.

Vladimir Putin: I see.

You might have noticed that in recent years we have been paying a lot of attention to the issue of de-bureaucratization of various spheres of activity. Judging by what you have said, the space sector also needs this clearing of regulatory blockages that have been created over many decades.

It is clear that the industry was created under certain conditions, with a certain level of development of both science and technology. A lot has changed. And you're probably – not probably, but definitely-right. I do not know what exactly you are talking about, because you did not mention specific things, so it is difficult for me to navigate, but I know for sure that in general, of course, we need to adapt the regulatory framework to the realities of today.

On the one hand, it should be organized in such a way as to ensure the safety and reliability of the space system as a whole and individual vehicles. I don't know how precisely you put it: after all, the reliability of the entire system depends on the reliability of individual devices.

Apparently, the point is different: in the approaches, in the need to get rid of excessive regulation, from excessive requirements. Yuri Ivanovich [Borisov] probably knows better than I do what this redundancy is and where, but it is absolutely necessary to follow this path. We will follow this path, especially since even with the current excessive requirements that you mentioned, such failures as with the Luna-25 still occur. Therefore, it seems that excessive regulatory regulation and bureaucracy do not save us from such incidents, although, of course, this is a separate topic, we need to take a closer look. Yuri Ivanovich has already reported: in principle, it is already clear what happened there, but it all happened despite this regulation.

Of course, we will follow this path one hundred percent, especially when interaction between the state and private business is in demand now. The commercialization of space services is taking place, and it will be absolutely impossible to develop without it, this is obvious. We need to create a market for these services, we need this market to be such that it is profitable to work in space, so that it is profitable to invest money, and so on.

Of course, you can't do without modern legal regulation. We will definitely follow this path. It will be necessary to specify, including with your help, what exactly needs to be done to make the wheel spin faster.

A. Kulikov: This is a very complex issue. It seems to me that if we consider it now, our meeting will simply drag on.

Vladimir Putin: When your colleagues just talked about how the work is organized, how the work is going, including private companies, they talked about their achievements, they talked about what they need. What they need cannot be provided without a certain "combing" of the regulatory framework. We will definitely move in this direction.

Alexander Kulikov: Thank you.

Alexey Volyntsev: Thank you.

I suggest you keep up the pace and pass the floor to my Siberian colleague. Ivan Zimin, JSC Reshetnev.

Igor Zimin: Hello! Ivan Zimin, Chief Designer of small spacecraft of JSC Reshetnev.

As you are well aware, we are currently developing multi-satellite orbital clusters within the scope of the Sphere project, gaining experience in creating large systems and ensuring the transition to mass-produced space technology. This will significantly expand the market of services that we can offer to organizations and citizens of our country. And, as you have already correctly noted, I absolutely agree with you, it is necessary to form a regulatory framework for the commercialization of services and services.

However, JSC Reshetnev is also the main developer of another type of systems-geostationary space systems, which are currently the basis of satellite communications in Russia. But now these systems are not provided with state support. I believe that this is a critical infrastructure element of communication.

Vladimir Putin: Are you not supported?

I. Zimin: With state funding. At the moment, they are commercial systems. I think this is very important, it is the pillar and foundation of satellite communications in Russia.

My question is this, a question and a suggestion: do you plan to support the development of geostationary space systems at the state level in order to preserve the basis of the communications infrastructure in Russia?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We just watched it, and our colleagues said, I absolutely agree with this, the whole world is moving in this direction. And unmanned aerial vehicles, and those who are higher up should fly and fly already, in the very near space, then low-orbit vehicles and geostationary ones, they should all work in one circuit, all this should be combined with each other. Here it is quite obvious that you don't even need to be such a deep specialist. Life requires it-and in all spheres: security, communications, telecommunications, the same thing everywhere.

And the greater the connection between the various levels, the greater the market for the consumption of the relevant services. And the bigger the market is, the more efficient and faster everything will develop, because money will drive this progress forward.

Of course, we are geostationary [systems], and we will also support everything that works there.

As for the Sphere project – don't we have state support? There is, of course. But how does it develop? Moreover, what was it originally called?

Yu.: "Ether".

Vladimir Putin: It was originally called Efir. I made a slip of the tongue at one of my public speeches and said "Sphere". I came to the Kremlin and called my former boss, the head of Roscosmos [Dmitry Rogozin], and said: listen, Dim, I'm sorry, I misspoke, I said "project Sphere". He says: and there is a project "Sphere". I say: how? I made a slip of the tongue. He says: no, we've already rewritten everything. I haven't had time to get there yet, it's already called "Sphere". I say: well, okay, don't rewrite it back, let it be "Sphere".

Why did I remember that? Because initially we did it only with state support. And we will continue to do this, of course. But what about it? Necessarily.

But, unfortunately, we have not yet been able to properly commercialize all this activity to the required extent. We will definitely follow this path. And we will still invest state resources, because there are some tasks where the state is the consumer of services. But what if the state consumes, it must pay.

Igor Zimin: Thank you.

Alexey Volyntsev: Mr President, I think I will now report on my own behalf.

As an employee of Russian cosmodromes, I run the risk of being misunderstood by my colleagues, and maybe even slightly beaten, if I don't raise the issue of closed territories. They, the Siberians, have a strong hand.

Vladimir Putin: Siberians are specific people.

Alexey Volyntsev: If I don't raise the issue of ZATO, closed territorial entities.

Currently, the social infrastructure in Tsiolkovsky is very weak. Blagoveshchensk is a four-hour road, not the best road, but young people, as a result, run at least on weekends, and sometimes irrevocably. Last year we went nuts, held a youth event there on Saturday, and as a result, we barely gathered 50 people in the whole city.

The situation is similar in Zheleznogorsk. There, too, the transport cutoff is very much affected. Any conference means taking all participants there for two hours by car, van, car, whatever, and back. This is an unnecessary expense, unnecessary time. Accordingly, young people will not be dragged there.

In my opinion, the most ambitious tasks of Roscosmos are connected with these cities in the near future. Accordingly, if we want these tasks to be fulfilled, then on behalf of our young people, taking a deep breath, I have to demand that the issue be resolved at least in terms of creating new social and leisure centers, transport connectivity, and as a maximum-in terms of creating conditions for business and commerce to come there and develop I want people to finally be proud of the cities where they live, and be able to get more involved in their work, less distracted by everyday life.

The report is over.

Vladimir Putin: You know, and you don't need to demand it. It was I who came up with the Vostochny cosmodrome, respectively, and the city also appeared. I'm not exaggerating. Because at some point in time, the country had no money at all, this is the beginning of the 2000s. And when I said that Russia should have its own spaceport, a real civilian spaceport, everyone thought it was a joke. But then we started doing it.

First, Roscosmos offered a site on the Pacific coast, somewhere near Vladivostok, where design work had already begun, then colleagues came again and said that, no, they looked at how the launches were going on at Cape Canaveral, the weather conditions on the ocean are very bad, we need to move to the territory. Let's go to the territory. To make it clear, I personally chose this place. Just came to the field and watched this field, where the spaceport is now. Therefore, I do not need to be convinced of anything, I agree completely.

Moreover, the last time we met our Korean guest from North Korea recently, we were still working on the development of the cosmodrome and the city, in addition to communicating with him. I asked my colleagues to pay special attention to this. We will definitely do this.

And what's more, there are also two large enterprises there – Gazprom and Sibur, they are close by. They are also planning a social program there. And I asked them to put all this together with Tsiolkovsky in one system, so that people who live there, there, and there, have the opportunity to use a single system of such socially significant and necessary objects for people, especially young people. So we will definitely do it, 100 percent.

And I would like it to be all done quickly. Since you have just mentioned this, I will take it under control, as they say, and we will try to push it to go faster. I would very much like people to feel comfortable there, so that they don't have to run anywhere, but only run in the morning for their health. We will definitely try to do this, of course.

Alexander Volyntsev: Thank you.

We still have representatives of private cosmonautics present, and I suggest that you hand them the microphone.

Vsevolod Shevtsov and Makar Stepanchenko.

Vladimir Shevtsov: Hello! Vsevolod Shevtsov, JSC "Sitronics".

I think I will summarize that private space companies are ready to start solving the tasks of the state and the Roscosmos state corporation in modern conditions, challenges and needs.

As an example: the low-orbit Earth remote sensing spacecraft and the spacecraft of the automatic identification system of vessels created by Sitronics JSC have been launched and are functioning in orbit. Moreover, a vessel identification service has been created, which is provided to Rosrybolovstvo. This is a replacement for the departed Marine Traffic. And the data of remote sensing of the Earth were transferred to the state corporation "Roscosmos" for evaluation and, according to preliminary data, passed it.

The main problem is that no private space company can independently finance the creation of a full-fledged grouping of spacecraft. And the regulatory framework and mechanisms of state support for private space companies are currently absent.

Therefore, on behalf of all private space companies, I would like to ask you, Mr Putin, to give instructions to correct the regulatory framework and provide for financing mechanisms for private space companies.

Vladimir Putin: We are now only with the heads of these companies – how many of them, six people were-now they told me about these problems in detail. Therefore, I fully share your concerns and those of your colleagues.

The most important thing is that the state is interested in this – it is interested in attracting private companies to this important joint work.

Of course, you need to create conditions. But the most important condition, as I have already mentioned – is to create a market so that it is profitable to work in this area. And some of the funds, I think, should be directed not directly even to those state-owned companies that produce something for space, but to direct state resources to those who consume these services so that they can order, and increase the role of the customer in this whole story.

But I repeat once again, the most important thing is to create conditions so that there is a market, so that people pay for these services. The first steps need to be taken, and then, I am sure, it will go further. Then it will be interesting from a commercial point of view to work there. We will follow this path, there is no doubt about it.

We have just discussed this issue with our colleagues. We understand them, hear them, and are even more interested in working together. These developments are simply unique, and in a variety of areas, and not only in the field of remote sensing of the Earth, but also in other areas. Special tasks are even solved in the field of security, which is extremely important. We will definitely do this.

Vladimir Shevtsov: Thank you.

Mikhail Stepanchenko: Hello! Makar Stepanchenko, engineer of the 1st category of the Special Technology Center.

In this matter, I fully support Vsevolod on behalf of the STC, because the issue is really relevant both for us and for the entire private space.

I would also like to add that remote sensing and communications groups abroad are currently actively developing, but we are not actively developing such groups. These groupings are very important, and we can see from international experience that there is already a successful experience of interaction between private companies and the state in developing these systems, such as Starlink and the like. And our company is no exception. We are also currently implementing initiative projects for the development of small remote sensing spacecraft with radar monitoring. We have already brought out five vehicles, which are now successfully undergoing flight tests, and show characteristics no worse than their foreign counterparts.

Vladimir Putin: We need to do better.

M. Stepanchenko: We try our best. And what is very important, they have unification…

Vladimir Putin: I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is a matter of principle. The mood should be like this, the internal mood should be better, then the competitiveness will be higher. If they are the same – what are you doing there, taking into account all [factors], geopolitics-they will be cut off. And if they are better, cheaper and better in quality – they will take it, despite any differences in the political sphere. Just like today in space: cooperation is ongoing, despite any problems. And cooperation in space – the ISS works.

Mikhail Stepanchenko: Yes. We are working very hard in this area.

Vladimir Putin: That's why we need to always do better, especially in this area. We have opportunities to be better.

Mikhail Stepanchenko: Yes.

We have just shown that the tests are really successful, that our vehicles fly and function well and correctly. And we are ready to develop this area, we are ready to offer some new solutions, but really, as Vsevolod said, without the support and attention of the state, we will not be able to deploy a large-scale enough grouping so that it really performs full functionality throughout, perhaps even on the planet.

On behalf of both the STC and, in principle, private companies, I would really like to ask you to do something to encourage the development of these interactions between the state and private companies and support us.

Vladimir Putin: So it will be, as I have already said. But apart from all that was said a little earlier, I can only add that we have just discussed the possibility of providing soft loans through Promsvyazbank. I think that we will also talk about this today and now at the meeting. The most important thing is a cheap financial resource. We will try to provide it too

Mikhail Stepanchenko: Thank you very much.

Alexey Volyntsev: I suggest that you pass the microphone to our girls. They are also eager to talk to us.

Vladimir Putin: It's high time.

A. Volyntsev: Lyubov Shiryaeva, JSC Russian Space Systems, and Irina Yeseneeva, RSC Energia.

L. Shiryaeva: Good afternoon ... it's already [good] evening, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

We have a question about maintaining and developing competencies in the industry by retaining and retaining personnel. Today, as you have already said, Roscosmos focuses on such high – tech and resource-intensive competencies as the development and operation of spaceports, manned space exploration, the creation of large, complex geostationary vehicles and, of course, scientific space.

I think that private companies will not be able to develop their competencies in the coming years, because they are very resource-intensive, and they require a large team of scientists and highly qualified engineers, who are formed not in one year, but are formed over years, and sometimes decades, and experience is passed on from generation to generation.

But, unfortunately, today there is a large departure of personnel in the industry. For example, in the current year alone, a quarter of my employees left my team. Some of them go to commerce, others to private space companies, because today, unfortunately, wages are not as competitive in Roscosmos as in commerce. And often we get two or three times lower wages than commercial companies can pay. And young engineers who have completed six years of study at a university and have mastered such complex engineering specialties sometimes receive less than couriers on the market.

And we are worried that in the near future there will indeed be a large shortage of personnel in the industry and there will be no opportunity to develop in the space sector. Can we expect any drastic changes in the remuneration of our employees in the near future?

Vladimir Putin: As for the courier service in the market, I think that they have been "bent", of course, but [they get] the average [salary] in the relevant regions, it turns out to be somewhere around the average, even slightly below the average, but it should be higher. I agree, we will definitely think about it.

To be honest, I didn't even expect it when I looked at the materials for today's meeting, which will be held, and I was even a little surprised. Because we have a certain order for certain areas of high-tech activity, as you know, in scientific institutions: the market, the average salary in the region should be paid as much-there is 100, there is 200 percent. But this is also, of course, the most important area, I don't even understand how we missed it. I agree.

Such issues are not solved in one click, but you definitely need to think about it and move forward. We will definitely do this.

L. Shiryaeva: Thank you very much.

Irina Yeseneyeva: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

My name is Irina Yeseneeva, a first-class engineer at RSC Energia.

Now the housing issue for young professionals is extremely acute. My husband and I are a young family, we have been working in the industry for more than five years, we are thinking about children, but we don't have our own housing yet. We tried to take out a mortgage from a well-known bank that supports our industry, but the bank approved an extremely low amount at a high interest rate, and this amount is now not even possible to buy a "one-bedroom apartment" in the old fund in Korolev.

Vladimir Putin: At what percentage, I wonder?

Irina Yeseneyeva: 14-15 percent. And there is no way to save up quickly for the first installment right now.

And this is a problem for many young professionals in our industry. Whether it is possible to make a preferential mortgage for employees of the space industry, reducing the interest rate and the requirements for the first installment is very important – both for new buildings and for secondary housing, because in Korolev there is now a big problem with new buildings, mainly "secondary".

I believe that we are solving important tasks for the country, and we really want to enlist your support in solving this issue.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: You really have too much – 14 percent. Although we have created a whole scale, starting from two percent-you know, right? - for certain categories and for certain territories, and ending... then three, and five [percent], and so on.

But the space industry, of course, should have its own system of benefits, for sure. I won't say any specific figures now, because it would be incorrect to discuss this with the Government, first of all, with the Ministry of Finance, to compare different conditions. But the fact that for the space industry, taking into account its importance for the country, for the state, its potential and prospects for development – we, of course, need to retain personnel here, young specialists. This is quite obvious. And housing is one of the fundamental indicators of job attractiveness.

We will definitely think about it. It is very important.

Irina Yeseneyeva: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: By the way, you said that they are going to private companies that also deal with space issues. You see, private business is still developing. We already have 150 companies that do this. This is not enough yet, but most recently it was only five or six. Within a few years, there were 150 of them-companies that are engaged in space activities. So we will definitely move forward.

Irina Yeseneyeva: Thank you.

I'll add a little more. I would not like to go to another industry, I would like to support the domestic space industry and directly the company where I work.

Vladimir Putin: Don't you want to work as a courier in the market, despite your high earnings?

Irina Yeseneyeva: If support is introduced, it would naturally be easier to support our industry.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We will definitely think about it, I just promise you, and we will definitely work on it. As well as the creation of such a social sphere at the cosmodrome, near the cosmodrome, in the city of Tsiolkovsky, and so on. You can believe it: now that I was there, I raised this issue myself in a conversation with my colleagues there.

Dmitry Manturov: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: Here is the Deputy Prime Minister [confirms], he will not lie. Big boss.

A. Volyntsev: We believe it very readily.

Vladimir Putin: And on my own initiative, I say: listen, what is there for the guys? There's nothing special. We said the roads were good there. In my opinion, it can be interesting when Sibur and Gazprom do something, they also do something for themselves there. I told them: listen, let's get together, we need to unite. The roads are good, so you can create some attractive centers in some places, or more precisely, in all these places, so that you can move somewhere, move somewhere, and not sit in one place. So that the "movement" was, as they say.

Alexey Volyntsev: As a hint, I can also give you a hint to talk to Russian Railways.

Vladimir Putin: What about Russian Railways?

A. Volyntsev: There is a station, there are tracks. Accordingly, in order for the train to run, you just need an economic justification or a subsidy. Either a strong-willed decision.

Vladimir Putin: In more detail, what is Russian Railways?

Alexey Volyntsev: At the moment, the railway connection project with Tsiolkovsky has not been implemented, and this is largely due to the position of individual specialists of Russian Railways. I can no longer be responsible for the top management here, because we, as young specialists, communicate "from the bottom up".

Vladimir Putin: And what is there, what problems will Russian Railways solve for you? There's a lane coming up soon. The runway is ready, the plane will fly.

Alexey Volyntsev: It would be much more convenient for children to travel by train to Blagoveshchensk on weekends, just like in most regions, than on their own. In this regard.

Vladimir Putin: What about the locals?

Alexander Volyntsev: Yes. Because now all trips are to the store and back.

Vladimir Putin: I'll talk to Oleg Valentinovich [Belozerov].

Alexey Volyntsev: I'm afraid I won't be invited to the Russian Railways events again.

Vladimir Putin: They will, they will, don't worry.

Alexander Volyntsev: Good.

I don't know, maybe the final question, maybe not.

Vladimir Putin: Please.

A. Volyntsev: Oleg Platonov, Cosmonaut Training Center.

Oleg Platonov: Hello!

I am Oleg Platonov, test cosmonaut of Roscosmos, Cosmonaut Training Center.

Five years ago, I was selected for the cosmonaut squad and all these years I have been doing my best to prepare for future space flights. You can say that I live by this business. I, all the specialists of our center, and the cosmonaut team are currently very worried about where we will fly next when the program of flights to the International Space Station ends. We need new ships, we need a new orbital station.

In this regard, we would all like to ask you to support in every possible way the creation of the Russian orbital station, the so-called ROS. Of course, there is an understanding of the current situation and conditions.

And I have a question: will our state, Russia, have enough resources, the will and desire to prevent a break in the flights of our people, our cosmonauts to space, and in general to implement all the planned plans in the field of space?

Vladimir Putin: First of all, and I think the most important thing is that we should all understand this, and the Government should understand – in fact, there is such an understanding – that without manned cosmonautics, we will not be able to develop space and space services effectively. First.

Second, and equally important – you need to do everything in a timely manner. If the financial groundwork is not made in a timely manner, and therefore technological and technical, then this "gap" in manned cosmonautics may arise. We will also talk about this today.

The goal is to ensure that there are no "gaps", that the work goes on rhythmically, so that as the ISS resource is exhausted, it gradually appears and eventually not one segment, but the entire station, appears at the right moment.

We have already looked at one of these segments today. When can it be withdrawn?

Yu.Borisov: 2027.

Vladimir Putin:The first segment will be launched into orbit in 2027.

Oleg Platonov: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Alexey Volyntsev: This is very encouraging.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are working on mistakes, so the next person wants to make the best rocket in the world. Alexander Kvetkin, RCC "Progress".

Alexander Kvetkin: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

As I have already been introduced, my name is Alexander Kvetkin, head of the sector in the main project department for launch vehicles [RCC] "Progress".

Now there is a trend in the world for launching spacecraft using reusable launch vehicles. And we are also working on developing such a rocket. It is called "Cupid". It will use an environmentally friendly fuel component-liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen. Launches will take place from the Vostochny cosmodrome.

As a participant in this project, I would like to note that it is associated with the need to introduce new technologies, test the landing of the first stage, as well as create reusable engines for the first stage.

We understand that our satellite constellation is currently actively developing, which means that we need a reusable Amur carrier right now. However, sequestering the federal space program reduces the pace of development. Can you tell me if there is an opportunity to help promote a reusable launch vehicle?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Yuri Ivanovich, did you arrange it? I see.

This is not sequestering. There is a certain reduction in individual budget items, but in general, our budget is large, reliable and balanced. Everything depends on the readiness of industries, including the space industry, to master some segments of their work.

What you said is very important work, because the competitiveness of the industry as a whole, in this case the industry we are talking about and where you work, depends to a large extent on the cost of one kilogram put into orbit. a lot of things. There is, of course, a substantial part that is directly related to the quality of the vehicles that we bring out, with the tasks that they are able to solve in orbit, and so on. But still, from the point of view of competitiveness, a lot depends on the cost of a kilogram put into orbit. Therefore, such a device, which you mentioned, is a reusable rocket, and even more so on liquefied natural gas, of course, it is very much in demand, and it is also in demand, as they say, in the national economy, and from the point of view of solving some issues in the field of security

So, of course, we will work together. Let's look at the subject of what was reduced there. Yuri Ivanovich, did they reduce the volume there?

Yu.Borisov: We will find opportunities. This work is really innovative and important.

Vladimir Putin: Have you cut funding?

Yu.Borisov: Mr President, we are being shaken up a bit for the passport data [of the program], but I really shouldn't be offended by the Ministry of Finance. We have committed to carry out all the planned activities – they have committed to add money to us. As long as we are on this path for the second year, we can't complain.

Vladimir Putin: You should always complain: they will give you more money. Ask for more and they'll give you less, but you have to ask for more. So please remind me, okay? This is an important job. You heard us, our dialogue. We will not give up this job, it is in demand.

Alexander Kvetkin: Thank you very much.

A. Volyntsev Thank you. Your answers are encouraging, so the question is about a sore point.

Denis Demin, Lavochkin NGO.

Dmitry Demin: Hello, Mr President!

Denis Demin, Head of the Design Department of NPO Lavochkin. And I have a question about the "Luna-25", which was already mentioned today. This device was made in many ways by a young team that was formed just for this project, and the emergency situation that occurred, of course, upset us all very much.

Vladimir Putin: Neither do I, to be honest with you. It was so insulting.

Dmitry Demin: Yes. But we, on the other hand, understood that it would be very difficult to pass this path without mistakes. We had a huge break, almost 50 years, were largely based on new technology, it was necessary to restore, create new competencies. And the team that worked on it has not given up now, it carefully analyzes the errors that have occurred, the technical solutions that are planned for further missions. And this gives us confidence in future missions. Now we have plans for "Luna-26" - an orbiter, and "Luna-27" - a lander.

But it is very important not to let this team run away, "sour", lose these competencies that have now been acquired in practice at such a high price. Accordingly, we must not allow a break in the development of the lunar program in any case, so that this does not happen, that we are not launching anything again for 10 years, because we will again lose these accumulated competencies.

Accordingly, the question is: will the domestic lunar exploration program continue to be supported? Let's not stop.

Vladimir Putin: It will be. We have the next device planned when, in what year, in 2027?

Yu.BORISOV: We will try, maybe even move it to the left, there are such plans for 2026. But for now, it's 2027.

Vladimir Putin: Well, I was not mistaken, 2027 is the next year [launch].

Yu.Borisov: It is provided with funding, and we will continue.

Vladimir Putin: Yuri Ivanovich suggests that we do not plan to close it. But mistakes are mistakes, this is such a complex field of activity. It's a shame, it's a shame to everyone, I assure you. But nothing. This is cosmonautics, this is space exploration, complex tasks. Everyone understands everything. Moreover, as Yuri Ivanovich said, in general, it is already clear what happened, because of what happened. Well, yes, it's a shame. Nothing, but it is negative, but still it is an experience that will be used in the future so that there are no mistakes. I am sure.

Then we have an intermediate orbital [flight], then with a landing – we will do everything. Then no one landed there, in this place, on this "cap", so everything is very promising and interesting. We will definitely work, and the lunar program will continue.

Dmitry Demin: Thank you very much.

Alexey Volyntsev: And with a hot, very hot, probably, I would even say, hot question – Yuri Novikov, Arsenal Design Bureau.

Yu.Novikov: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

KB Arsenal, Saint Petersburg.

You told private businesses to make better products. And I thought: in principle, Russia today has the only nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet in the world, which opens up the strategically important Northern Sea Route for us.

And, probably, this is the closest parallel to what we are doing: we are making a kind of “space nuclear icebreaker". I'm just kidding, of course. In fact, our company is developing a transport power module with a nuclear power plant with a capacity of half a megawatt. Such power will not only allow us to fly to the most remote corners of the Solar System, but also allow us to power equipment that we have not even sent to space before.

And, unfortunately, an advance project is currently underway – the state contract is only for the advance project. This means that the future fate of this product is still not determined, but today we are experimentally proving the possibility of creating key elements and systems. For example, an energy conversion system and a complex gas turbine installation. And in the world, even on paper, such projects simply do not exist.

Come 2024, the state contract for the advance project will end, and what will happen next? Of course, this project is associated with high technical risks and requires serious funding from the state. But if we stop and take such a pause, we can not only lose time, but also an advantage. While we are the first, this is absolutely true.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, can we count on your support for this ambitious project?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: You can. Then I can tell you an anecdote on this topic, but just the two of us. This anecdote does not correspond to our reality, and the reality lies in what you said, namely: we are the first in this direction, and everyone else is behind us, we are ahead. And the topic is very important, and they also talked a little bit about it at the exhibition. Deep space exploration without this is probably unrealistic and impossible.

Therefore, many of our partners show great interest in cooperation in this area. But we will also need this propulsion system for space exploration, and, say, the same lunar programs will require such a powerful source of energy, and so on, so we will certainly do it. I just don't know the details related to the planned funding right now, but we will definitely not abandon this topic at all and provide the necessary amount of money for the program to move forward, one hundred percent.

Yu.Novikov: Thank you very much, Mr President.

Alexey Volyntsev: Mr President, we would like to keep in touch with you, but we know that you still have a meeting ahead of you. I really want you to continue to solve issues there as actively as possible.

I would like to say a big thank you from us, because I saw how worried the guys were before the meeting, how it seemed that our questions were lost and everything would never be covered up, but you changed the situation.

And the main thing is that today the guys heard that what they do is useful for the country, and that the country is also worried about our problems.

Vladimir Putin: I am sure that when they chose their life path, they just assumed that it was important and interesting. If our meeting confirmed this thesis, I am very pleased. This means that at least part of the goal of today's meeting has been achieved in this sense.

But it didn't end, because there's a colleague sitting there, raising his hand, trying to say something.

Nikolai Chudinov: Mr President, thank you very much for the opportunity to ask a question. The question will be about manned flights from Vostochny.

When we chose the orbit for ROS, we assumed that all launches would be carried out from the Russian cosmodrome. But we still can't launch our old proven Soyuz from Vostochny. Vostochny has a number of problems that can be solved, but we are told that it is easier to abandon the old ship. It was decided to fly to ROS only on a new ship. But Soyuz also has its own niche. Both ships will be in demand on the ROS.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, is it possible to raise the issue of finalizing the launch at Vostochny in order to fly from our cosmodrome? As a ballistics expert, I'll give you one argument. We will have a significant loss of output mass from Baikonur, 600 kilograms, and in this sense it would be very difficult.…

Vladimir Putin: I understand that we have just discussed this with Yuri Ivanovich [Borisov]. We will move in this direction.

Yuri Ivanovich, when will our tables be ready there?

Yu.Borisov: In general, 2027 is on the "Angara". But the question raised is absolutely correct. Remember, we told you that the risks associated with aerobatics are related to the only start at Baikonur. We'll work with our colleagues to find out if there's a problem with the rescue system, and it should work differently than from Baikonur. But if we find a solution, it is advisable to do so.

Vladimir Solovyov: In general, it is interesting, Nikita, you are my student, I taught you. (Laughter.)

Vladimir Vladimirovich, what is the situation there? Vostochny does have one problem for our equatorial orbits at 51 degrees, on which the ISS flies – we are just starting and immediately find ourselves over the Pacific Ocean.

If we start from Baikonur, we have literally 11 seconds over the Pacific Ocean. As they say, here the problems of salvation are solved, because all the problems of salvation are usually where there is a division of steps, where all these troubles arise.

The ROS will fly, as I told you, in a polar orbit. This is a different mood, and there we pass not over very good ones, but over our territories. There's land.

Vladimir Putin: How is it "not over very good"? If it's ours, then it's very good.

Vladimir Solovyov: There are swamps, there are swamps, and then when we reach the Arctic Ocean, it's just cold. But there are not five points of the Pacific Ocean, and the search is much easier, because there are airfields, landings. We have looked at this case, and from Vostochny, of course, we are ready to launch it into our assumed polar orbit-96 degrees.

So yes, you really should. We continue to work with the ISS. We very much believe that with a careful attitude to the launch at Baikonur, we will be able to continue all this work. But if, as I say, there are any emergency situations when it is already difficult to restore, then we will have to think about some kind of rescue system over the Pacific Ocean - if we fly to the ISS.

Vladimir Putin: Here. A response has been received from your former teacher. But this is a former teacher for you, and for me the last and first authority. We will listen to the experts ' opinion, of course.

Alexey Volyntsev: Colleagues, now I will agree just in case…

Alexander Afonin: Can I ask you another question?

Vladimir Putin: Please, yes.

Alexander Afonin: Good afternoon!

Wait a second, just a small question. My name is Afonin Alexander, JSC "Composite", a leading design engineer.

We have a problem for young professionals in Russia right now: it is difficult for us to implement ourselves appropriately. And the point here is not only even in the "standard setting" or in the problems of bureaucracy, which we discussed today. In order for the project to be noticed and supported, we need the scale of the entire country.

Yes, now there are various local platforms, grant "stories", university and regional ones. But if we want a breakthrough, if we want to jump into the day after tomorrow, because the Chinese and other space powers are already jumping into tomorrow, we need, as I said, the scale of the entire country.

An example of the implementation of such an idea is the national competition for technical projects of the rocket and space industry – a unique platform where young specialists can meet, exchange ideas and generate unique products, such a large cauldron with new ideas. And accordingly, if the winners of this competition are supported by grants in the future, we will move forward very quickly. Even now, a motto for such a contest has been born in my head: every case is moved by people who are eager to move this very thing.

How do you like this idea? Do you support such a contest?

Vladimir Putin: It's a good idea, but the slogan is a bit long.

Alexander Afonin: Let's do some work.

Vladimir Putin: You "chop off", make it bright. But I think the idea itself is very good. (To Yu.To Borisov.) Yuri Ivanovich, we need to support you.

You know, we have a lot of good initiatives in various areas related to finding the most promising proposals and the people who formulate these proposals. Keeping in mind the importance and significance of the industry, of course, it is possible and necessary to organize. Let's do it-I wonder why not? With pleasure. I think that this will attract the attention of thousands of people and raise the prestige of space activities.

Alexander Afonin: That's what we're counting on.

Vladimir Putin: That's right, it's a good offer. Thank you.

Alexander Afonin: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: We'll finish it, okay? Because there are "big uncles" sitting, waiting, will be angry with you.

Igor Khairullin: Good evening!

Thank you for being able to ask a question in conclusion. I am Khairullin Ilnar, a student of Samara University, who is doing an internship at Energia .

We have a faculty of rocket and space technology, where citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of other countries study: These are Central Asia, Africa, and South America. Many of these people are ambitious people who come here from half the world, study, complete bachelor's and master's degrees, participate in scientific competitions, and participate in volunteer events. But at the same time, after graduation, they cannot continue working in the space sector, because in their country the industry is not established.

Vladimir Putin: Well done. Tsap-tsap, we need to take talented guys, of course, we need to take them.

Igor Khairullin: Yes, and my suggestion is this: since their countries can't produce space technology yet, but they are "burning" people, why not create scientific "reserves" here?

Vladimir Putin:" Reservation " is not a good word. And why not attract young professionals, talented people, and people we need?

I. Khairullin: For example, this is what NASA does, which gathers teams of foreigners who work on some local projects of their own. For example, it can be the creation of small spacecraft for their own countries, for example, they can simply process orders.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, exactly, I agree. It's a good idea, absolutely, especially since people have arrived, have been living here for several years, and know the language. Of course, if there are really talented young people who are passionate about this type of activity, of course, yes. Moreover, since they were sent from other countries, we can think about how we can build relations in this area and with our partners, so that they do not lose these people forever. Absolutely totally agree, thanks for the idea. We must definitely do this. Thank you.

I. Khairullin: thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

I would like to wish you all success in the very interesting field of activity that you have chosen for yourself. Of course, it is complex, diverse, and involves many risks, not only for cosmonauts, but also for those who are engaged in space exploration, because technological and technical risks, as we have just said about Luna-25, are also risks. People spend years devoting themselves to solving some problem, and then a knock – and something went wrong. All this causes such a serious wound, especially if people are ambitious and strive to achieve a specific result. But it is interesting and very popular.

I sincerely wish you success, because your success – these are not empty words-largely depends on the success of the country's technological development, and this is a vital thing for the future of Russia. Thank you for coming to the industry, for being a fan of the industry's problems and interests. I sincerely wish you success.

Alexey Volyntsev: Mr President, thank you. It seems to me that such a small epilogue of our meeting can be Vasily Terkin:

"If we don't go too far, we'll break through,

If we're alive, we won't die.

When the deadline comes, we'll go back,

What we gave away, we will return everything."

Thank you. We will work together.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you for even remembering Vasily Terkin.

Russian poetry can provide a fitting end for almost any meeting in Russia. Not discussed were the joint plans Russia has with China for the development of the Lunar Research Station. It was also very important to hear Putin mention the absolute necessity for manned spaceflight. China is now in the process of changing crews in its space station which is performing exceedingly well. As you read, Russia’s National Space Project is aimed at vastly expanding the commercial market for space services, which is tied to the Global South’s further development. With the way the West is destroying what remains of its reputation, many fields will become wide open.

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