Browsing: Russian Space Agency

The Russian Space Agency, officially known as Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Roscosmos), is the governmental body responsible for overseeing Russia’s space exploration and activities. Established in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Roscosmos inherited the legacy of the Soviet space program, which was renowned for significant achievements such as launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957 and sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961.

Roscosmos is involved in a wide range of space-related activities, including launching satellites, human spaceflight, planetary exploration, and space science. It operates the Soyuz spacecraft, which has been a reliable workhorse for ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), particularly during periods when other spacecraft were not available. Roscosmos also manages the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia, both key launch sites for Russian and international missions.