Correspondent Iris de Graaf about the initiative:
“Russia is focusing more than ever on space this year. This spring it was 60 years ago that Yuri Gagarin became the first astronaut to go into space, something that was widely reported here in the media to remind the Russians how proud they were there. Russia also shot part of a film in space in October and is now sending a correspondent from a news agency into space.All ‘first times’ that should contribute to the image that Russia is a major player in the world stage and also in the international space struggle.
In addition, Russia has announced that it wants to build its own space station – although it remains to be seen whether Moscow has the financial resources for this. But if that happens, it will lead to tensions. Russia is isolating itself from the rest of the world with its own space station. The intended space station also gives a better view of the polar regions, where Russia wants to drill for oil and gas in new places.”
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