FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

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President Putin on Cosmonautics Day: Space Exploration ‘Can Unite Us’

April 13, 2018 (EIRNS)—Speaking to Russian cosmonauts yesterday on the national holiday that celebrates the first manned space flight of Yuri Gagarin in 1961, President Vladimir Putin emphasized that research and development on Russian space programs will continue, despite sanctions and declining relations between Russia and the U.S.

In the dialogue, which is posted to the Kremlin website, the President was asked if a manned mission to the Moon is in Russia’s plans, President Putin replied, “Yes, it is. As you may know, the program extends up to 2030.” He described the work on the manned space capsule that will replace the venerable Soyuz:

“The finishing touches are being put on the spacecraft Federatsiya, and research and development is on for building a super-heavy rocket to be used for the lunar program, so there can be no doubt we will be working actively and implementing this program.”

He continued: “A Moon orbiter will come first, then modules on the Moon itself will emerge. At least that’s what the plans are.”

Regarding the declining relations with the U.S., Putin juxtaposed space exploration, saying, “This is in the interest of everyone, of the whole of humanity. It’s a sphere of activity that can unite us.”