Russian Orbital Service Station

The Russian Orbital Service Station (Russian: Российская орбитальная станция, Rossiyskaya orbital'naya stantsiya) (ROS, Russian: РОС)^[3] is a proposed Russian orbital space station scheduled to begin construction in 2027. Initially an evolution of the Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment Complex (OPSEK) concept, ROS developed into plans for a new standalone Russian space station built from scratch without modules from the Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS.^[4]

Russian Orbital Service Station

Layout
Station statistics
Crew	2 or more
Launch	2027 (planned)[1]
Carrier rocket	Angara A5
Launch pad	Vostochny Cosmodrome
Orbital inclination	98.0°
Typical orbit altitude	400 km (planned)

External images
First stage vision 2025-2030 [2]
Second stage vision 2030-2035 [2]

Overview

In April 2021, Roscosmos officials announced plans to possibly exit from the International Space Station programme after 2024, stating concerns about the condition of its aging modules. On 26 July 2022, Roscosmos announced that the decision had been made to withdraw from the ISS programme after 2024.^[5] A new space station, named Russian Orbital Space Station, operated entirely by Roscosmos, would be launched starting in the mid-2020s.^[6][7][8]

In December 2024, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov stated crewed flights to the ROS would be launched starting in 2028, simultaneously with the completion of the ISS programme as coordinated with NASA.^[9]

ROS will operate at a 400-kilometer-altitude, near-polar and Sun-synchronous orbit, which will allow it to monitor the entire surface of the Earth, especially the Arctic region.^[10] This orbit will enable the station to serve two important functions: high-frequency observations of Russia from space, and easier access to the station compared to the ISS, which will allow for more medical and physiological experiments to be conducted than what is currently feasible on the Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS.^[11]

Planned modules

NEM-1, also known as Science Power Module 1 (SPM-1), will be the core module of ROS. Initially intended to be launched to the International Space Station in 2024, NEM-1 will instead undergo 1.5–2 years of redesign to prepare the module for its new role as part of ROS. As of January 2023^[update], NEM-1 is scheduled to launch in 2027^[1] on an Angara A5 launch vehicle from Vostochny Cosmodrome, and a new Core module (similar to NEM-1) is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028.^[3]

ROS is envisioned to include up to seven modules, with 2035 being the targeted completion date. The first stage of construction will consist of four modules: the base NEM-1 module, an upgraded NEM, a node module, and a gateway module. The second stage will include logistics and production modules, as well as a platform module for servicing spacecraft.^[12] A commercial module for up to four space tourists is also under consideration.^[7]

Planned extravehicular components

There are plans for "multiple robotic systems on the exterior of the outpost to help with assembly and maintenance work".^[13] The station is also planned to control "a family of small spacecraft" (satellites) to be launched directly from the station and "circl[ing] the globe in its vicinity", which would be a space first.^[14]

Planned mode of operation

In contrast to the continuously crewed ISS, ROS will be visited by cosmonaut crews periodically, operating in automatic mode most of the time. During their stays, cosmonauts will install new components, check scientific equipment, conduct experiments and perform maintenance and repair tasks. Roscosmos cites not only financial, but also safety reasons for this, "as it reduces the risk of cosmonauts receiving dangerous radiation doses".^[15]

See also

• List of space stations
• Lunar Orbital Station