Russia drops polar-orbit plan: its next station will be built on the ISS Russian segment at 51.6 degrees

Roscosmos/Russian Orbital Station (ROS)

Russia dropped a decade-old plan for a station in near-polar orbit and will instead grow its station from the ISS Russian segment, in the ISS's own orbit. Roscosmos tied the choice to India's planned station; outside experts say cost drove it, since staying at 51.6 degrees needs far less new design work.

• Universal node module planned for late 2028, science-power module on a Proton in 2029, airlock module in 2030.
• The Nauka module, in orbit since 2021, becomes the base but needs cooling repairs.
• The Russian block would separate before the ISS is deorbited around 2030.
• No partners had signed on.