Overview
- Kremlin deputy premier Denis Manturov said research missions to the Moon and Venus now occupy a central place in plans by Roscosmos and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
- He indicated Russia would probably move first toward Venus, citing the Soviet Venera 7 landing in 1970 as precedent.
- TASS reports the Venera-D mission is planned for 2036 with a lander, balloon probes, and an orbiter to probe clouds and the surface for potential biomarkers.
- Media also describe unconfirmed concepts such as launching a Venus mission from the Moon and a proposed lunar nuclear power plant within about ten years.
- Manturov recently received the Hero of Russia award, which drew public criticism, as coverage situates Russia’s plans against China’s stated goal to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.