USA: Russia might join NASA's Lunar Gateway program - Roscosmos

W/S 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Washington DC
M/S Congress attendees
SOT, Sergei Krikalev, Russia's executive director for manned space programs of Roscosmos State Corporation: "We are building a new human rated spacecraft that is capable to fly to [the] moon. And I hope it is going to be another way to send humans and cargo not only on low earth orbit but beyond toward Gateway and provide capability to land humans on [the] moon in future. And what ISS showed us that in spite of very reliable system that is built, every country, but in case of emergency, it's very important to have redundant system. And that's what's actually happening right now. After shuttle was grounded, Russia helped all our international partners to send humans."
W/S Speakers on stage and congress attendees
W/S Krikalev on stage
M/S Congress attendees
SOT, Sergei Krikalev, Russia's executive director for manned space programs of Roscosmos State Corporation: "We are planning to participate in Gateway, we don't have final decision how and which way, but for sure what we said before that international cooperation is important, it's important for Russia to stay together with our partners and of course we will develop our own national program, the problem now is that these program[s] need to be adjusted to each other so we need to clarify what we are going to do with Russia's program, and see how this program will be joined together with Gateway program."
W/S Speakers on stage
M/S Congress attendees
M/S Congress attendees
SCRIPT
The 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) kicked off in Washington DC on Monday, with space experts as well as politicians taking part in the event.
Russia's Roscosmos State Corporation's executive director for manned space programs Sergei Krikalev commented on NASA's plans to launch a space station in lunar orbit by 2024 - the Lunar Gateway. The Gateway project is intended for moon exploration with a future purpose of being a staging point for cosmonauts flying to Mars and back.
Krikalev said that despite Russia developing its own spacecraft to deliver cosmonauts to the moon, the country might also participate in the Gateway project.
"Of course, we will develop our own national program, the problem now is that these program[s] need to be adjusted to each other so we need to clarify what we are going to do with Russia's program, and see how this program will be joined together with Gateway program," said Krikalev.
The IAC will run until October 25.