Russia has expressed its intention to continue advancing research on rocket nuclear engines.

The President of the Russian State Space Corporation, Baranov, stated on the 1st that Russia will continue to advance research on rocket nuclear engines in 2026 to lay the foundation for deep space exploration. Baranov said that Russia has completed the preliminary design of a space complex with a nuclear power unit. The application of rocket nuclear engines will reduce the flight time to distant planets. He also revealed that Russian experts have started developing instruments for studying the lunar structure this year. In the future, Russia will scan the moon and complete the model of a lander, which will collect lunar soil and transmit data back to Earth. Baranov said that despite sanctions, Russia will continue to cooperate with the United States in manned spaceflight and joint operations on the International Space Station.