Vladimir Putin has replaced the head of Russia’s space agency after a botched mission to the Moon and the poorly managed construction of the new National Space Centre in Moscow.
In a terse one-sentence statement, on February 6, 2025, the Kremlin said Yury Borisov has been relieved of his duties as Director General of Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities. The executive order was signed by President Putin. Borisov lasted less than three years in the role.
The Moscow Times notes Borisov’s tenure was notable for its ambitious plans and some big setbacks. This included the crash of the Luna-25 probe in August 2023. The spacecraft collided into the lunar surface after an incident during pre-landing maneuvers. A successful soft landing would have seen Russia return to the Moon after 47 years away.
That Moon landing would have helped reinvigorate Russia’s space program. It now ranks a distant third behind the US and China’s programs. However, there are no current plans to try again until 2028 or later.
Multiple problems for Roscosmos
Roscosmos also endured ever-increasing construction costs and delays for a new National Space Centre in Moscow and fewer launches under Borisov’s watch. The space agency was also hampered by its isolation from most other national space agencies, primarily because of sanctions. Roscosmos also faced criticism for not prioritising research.
Russia conducted just seventeen launches in 2024 – two less than in 2023 and four less than in 2022.
However, a Kremlin spokesperson denied any particular motive for removing the head of Russia’s space agency. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov the Kremlin had “no complaints against Borisov” and the reshuffle was a “planned rotation.”
After the last landing on the Moon in 1976, Russia turned its attention to developing the Mir Space Station. Mir operated in low-Earth orbit between 1986 and 2001. Twenty-plus years later, Borisov heavily backed Russia’s next-generation space station.
New Roscosmos boss to juggle many balls
Russia says it wants a permanent human presence in space and a degree of autonomy not afforded it under present arrangement. Russia currently partners with the US, the EU, and Japan to run the International Space Station. Aside from the autonomy issue, that facility is nearing the end of its working life.
Last year, Borisov green-lighted the development of the first two modules of the new Russian station. The modules will presently launch in 2027. It was part of Borisov’s remit to reinvigorate Russia’s space program
Putin has replaced Borisov with Dmitry Bakanov, a former deputy transportation minister and head of the state-backed satellite communications company Gonets, a scaled-down version of Starlink.
Borisov’s predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, also unceremoniously booted by Putin from the top job at Roscosmos, described Bakanov as “very intelligent expert and a good man.”
In addition to keeping Putin onside, Bakanov must manage Russia’s exit from the ISS program, continue developing the country’s own space station, rein in costs, and attempt to make Russia a competitive player in the space sector’s top ranks once again
