Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos has announced a timeline to build a new space station. And if all goes to plan, it'll be completed sooner than you might think.
Alongside space agencies in the US, Europe, Japan and Canada, Russia has been a principal member of the International Space Station (ISS) since its 1998 launch.
However, in 2022, Roscosmos Director General, Yuri Borisov announced that the Russian space agency would be leaving the ISS after 2024.
He said: "The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made. I think that by that time we will start forming a Russian orbiting station."
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And, earlier this month, a comprehensive timeline was announced for the creation of the Russian Orbital Station (ROS), which is slated to be completed by 2033.
The approved schedule outlines the launch of the first research and energy module in just three years time.
This will be followed by the deployment of the universal nodal, gateway and baseline modules, which form the core of the orbital station, by 2030.
Then, between 2031 and 2033, two special-purpose modules (TsM1 and TsM2) will be docked to the station.
Roscosmos plans to send the first cosmonauts to the station in 2028 and has suggested it can be operated without a crew. The estimated cost to build it is about $7 billion.
This general schedule also includes flight tests of new spacecraft, creating carrier rockets and developing ground infrastructure facilities.
The ROS would orbit at the same altitude as the ISS, around 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.
According to Roscosmos, its route - a polar, sun-synchronous orbit - would be particularly useful for observing the entire surface of the planet.
And it's likely to contain a first - AI.
"Artificial intelligence is quickly developing technology." said Vladimir Kozhevnikov, chief designer of ROS, according to a report by TASS. "We will use its support but basically we will use our brains, of course."
Another chief designer, Vladimir Solovyov has suggested the space station will achieve another first in providing guidance for a fleet of satellites.
"This fleet will fly near the station... This, too, will imply brand-new tasks for mission control as no one has ever endeavored to do so," Solovyov said.
The Russian Orbital Station will continue Russia’s human spaceflight program following its exit from the International Space Station.
The ISS is expected to undergo a planned deorbit in 2030.