What Happened to Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities?

The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, the successor to the Soviet space program, has undergone a period of profound transformation and challenge, particularly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Immediately following the invasion, Roscosmos, then led by Dmitry Rogozin, faced a barrage of international sanctions. These sanctions led to the suspension of cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) on projects like ExoMars, the termination of Western commercial launches from Baikonur, and a halt in rocket engine sales to the United States, significantly impacting Roscosmos's export revenues and commercial launch services.

In 2023, Roscosmos experienced a major setback with the failure of its Luna-25 mission, Russia's first lunar probe in nearly 50 years, which crashed into the Moon after an orbital maneuver went awry. This failure highlighted underlying issues within the Russian space industry, including potential underfunding and technical challenges. Amidst these difficulties, Roscosmos reported substantial financial losses, with 2023 export revenues down by 180 billion rubles ($2.1 billion) due to canceled contracts.

Despite geopolitical tensions, cooperation on the International Space Station (ISS) has remarkably endured. Initial agreements to extend cross-flights with NASA were made until 2025, and in a significant development in July 2026, Russia and the United States agreed to extend joint ISS operations through 2030. This extension, announced by current Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov, ensures the continued presence of both Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts on their respective segments.

Parallel to its ISS commitments, Roscosmos is vigorously pursuing the development of its own independent Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), with the launch of the first module planned for 2027 and the core station expected to be in orbit by 2030. Early plans for ROSS included the potential reuse of modules from the Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS, reflecting a strategic pivot towards sovereign space infrastructure. The Vostochny Cosmodrome, a key launch facility, is also slated for completion by the end of 2026, aiming to reduce Russia's reliance on the leased Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Roscosmos has also deepened its collaboration with non-Western partners, particularly China, on lunar and deep-space exploration. A draft decree in July 2026 outlined Russia's space policy beyond 2036, emphasizing nuclear-powered spacecraft and the deployment of a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036, developed in cooperation with China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Furthermore, in August 2026, Roscosmos formalized agreements to train the first astronaut from Myanmar and cooperate on satellite navigation and rescue systems, signaling a broader outreach to new international partners.

However, Roscosmos's role in Russia's military-industrial complex has drawn increasing international scrutiny. A 2025 report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) indicated that significant federal funding allocated to Roscosmos between 2024 and 2026 was likely being diverted to support the production of cruise and ballistic missiles, rather than purely peaceful space missions. This dual-use model, a legacy of the Soviet era, continues to be a defining characteristic. In August 2026, the European Union imposed sanctions on the head of a Roscosmos subsidiary, NII TP, specifically targeting its development of military satellite systems, underscoring the ongoing concerns about Roscosmos's contributions to Russia's war efforts. As of August 22, 2026, Roscosmos continues to balance its international scientific partnerships with a growing emphasis on national strategic interests and military applications, while striving to overcome financial and technical hurdles.