On April 12, Cosmonautics Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Region. Putin said that Russia needs to successfully respond to modern challenges in space, and also promised to resume Russia's lunar program.
As reported by The Kremlin, during the visit of the two heads of state, flew around the territory by helicopter, got acquainted with the construction of the cosmodrome and its infrastructure facilities. After that, the Presidents of Russia and Belarus visited the construction sites of the command post and the launch facility for the Angara family of missiles.
I heartily congratulate all our citizens on this holiday - citizens of Russia, citizens of Belarus, all our compatriots, cosmonauts and the staff of the Vostochny cosmodrome, veterans and employees of the military space industry
Vladimir Putin
Russia to resume lunar program
According to Putin, the program will begin with the launch of the Luna-25 automatic interplanetary station (AMS) to the Earth's natural satellite. Putin added that Russia will consistently and persistently implement all its plans in the space sphere, despite external pressure.
We will continue to create a new generation transport vehicle and nuclear space energy technologies, where we certainly have a very good foundation and absolutely clear advantages. Let's resume the lunar program
Vladimir Putin
According to Roscosmos, the Luna-25 AMS will be launched in August from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Putin compared Gagarin's flight to Victory Day
According to the head of state, because of Gagarin's flight, "the country and the whole world rejoiced," and "we will have similar events again." According to the President, Russia has won a stubborn race for leadership in space in the past, leaving examples of camaraderie and will.
The generation of the creators of the Russian rocket and space program has left us not only a huge technological reserve, but also those values that we look up to today
Vladimir Putin
Putin expressed confidence that, despite the sanctions, Russia has all the necessary technologies to develop its own rocket and space industry.
The order is the desire of our ancestors to go forward. Despite any difficulties and any attempts to prevent us from this movement from the outside, we will definitely consistently and persistently implement all the plans outlined
Vladimir Putin
The Russian satellite grouping will be expanded
The President said that the country will expand the qualitative and quantitative potential of the satellite constellation.
To further introduce digital services in all sectors of the economy, public administration, education, healthcare, and people's daily lives, it is necessary to use the capabilities of space information technologies at a new level. To do this, within the framework of the Sphere program, we intend to significantly expand the quantitative and qualitative potential of our satellite constellation
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin said that the Vostochny Cosmodrome is a grandiose object and has a good development prospect. According to Putin, work on Vostochny is going according to plan, despite the adjustments made by the pandemic.