VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, a spacecraft manufacturing facility located in the town of Korolyov near Moscow and dedicated to Soviet rocket designer and engineer Sergey Korolyov. The prime minister toured the Energia testing facilities, where the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft are undergoing final testing before they will be incorporated into the International Space Station (ISS). Mr Putin was also shown a Zarya service module identical to the one currently installed in the ISS, as well as the latest generation of rocket carriers that will put GLONASS navigation satellites and military satellites into orbit.
In addition, the prime minister visited the space exploration museum, which features the most recent Energia technology, future Energia projects and exhibits on the history of Russian and Soviet rocketry. The museum's historical collection includes examples of the first three-stage intercontinental missiles, various ballistic missiles and a scale model of an ICBM launch facility developed by the Soviet Union and the United States.
A significant portion of the prime minister's guided tour of the museum was devoted to the Energia-manufactured spacecraft docking systems. Energia has sold the necessary technology to manufacture these docking systems to its American, European and Chinese partners. Energia executives also gave a presentation on the corporation's new manned spacecraft system, which will replace the Soyuz spacecraft, as well as a test programme for a future Russian manned spacecraft.
