Project for Mars Flight Should Be International – Space Agency Head

MOSCOW. June 28 (Interfax) – Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov said that the project for manned flights to Mars should be international, as no country is capable of conducting the necessary large-scale preparations on its own.

“Such an interplanetary flight could be made, technically speaking, but thorough preparations are needed for it. One country cannot carry out such a large-scale program. This mission has to be completed in cooperation with other countries,” Perminov said during an internet briefing on Monday.

He said that “Russia has rich experience in preparing and carrying out long-term flights, so the current level of aerospace development enables us to undertake this task.”

“If we solve issues in three spheres, financing, technology and preparation of astronauts and cosmonauts, then, I think, as the U.S. has declared, a flight to Mars could be made before 2020,” Perminov said.

He also said, however, that “before performing a manned flight, a large number of unmanned experimental flights are needed.”