The Russian government earmarked about 200 billion rubles ($7 billion) in funding for space programs in 2010-11, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
“In the far-from-easy post-crisis conditions we are increasing the volume of funding for our space programs,” he said.
Putin said Russia would develop a whole range of new capabilities over the next five years.
“We need new-generation space equipment, featuring greater reliability and service life,” he said.
This requires a “deep modernization” of space industry enterprises, as well as significant investment in RD programs, the prime minister said.
Putin directed the Russian space agency Roscosmos, in conjunction with the Russian Academy of Sciences, to draw up long-term space research plans by this August.
NOVO-OGARYOVO (Moscow region), April 7 (RIA Novosti)