Roscosmos Looks To New Space Markets In The Global South

Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, has had the contracts it possessed with now unfriendly countries all terminated, according to First Deputy General Director Andrei Yelchaninov. The company, with multiple subsidiaries, had been involved with everything from building the International Space Station (ISS) main capsules, ferrying astronauts to the ISS, putting other countries satellites in orbit, monitoring the arctic and space weather, conducting space biological and engineering experiments, and even space tourism.

The company had seen ₽180 billion (US$2.1 billion) losses from the termination of contracts by Western countries. It now plans to regain pre-sanctions level of exports via cooperation with Asian, African and Middle East countries.

Much of this work will be in placing satellites in orbit for emerging economies to assist with their national communications, broadcasting and security use. Yelchaninov said that “This is a long-term strategy, as with all new markets with high competition. If we enter them correctly, the prospects are very good.”

Roscosmos has also been discussing building Russia’s own orbiting space station, as well as permanently manned stations on the moon.