Hero of Russia, head of the Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Oleg Kononenko stated that the decision to extend the operation of the Russian segment of the ISS until 2030 will give the country an important time advantage for a smooth transition to the Russian Orbital Station (ROS).
Kononenko called this decision logical and expected. He emphasized that the ISS resource is not infinite, and the issue of de-orbiting the station is already moving into a practical plane. Extending the ISS's operational life, according to him, becomes a necessary stage in the transit to ROS, as each additional year in orbit allows for the development of technologies and the completion of scientific cycles without losing competencies and presence in the manned program.
The head of the CPC noted that, according to the current architecture, the first ROS modules are planned to be docked to the Russian segment of the ISS. This is a pragmatic approach that will allow the use of existing infrastructure and accumulated experience as a foundation for the new station. Kononenko called the extension until 2030 a balanced step, ensuring continuity and creating a technological platform for future missions.
It should be recalled that on July 14, Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov announced that Roscosmos and NASA had agreed to extend their joint work on the ISS until 2030. After the ISS ceases operations, the agencies will continue to coordinate and exchange technical aspects of their orbital stations, as well as the practice of cross-flights.