US Wants Russia Participation In Lunar Gateway, Despite Roscosmos Skepticism - NASA Chief

The United States is looking forward to a partnership with Russia in developing a lunar orbiting space station despite Russian skepticism about the project and has no formal indication that Moscow does not want to be part of the effort, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstein told the Space Business Roundtable on Monday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2018) The United States is looking forward to a partnership with Russia in developing a lunar orbiting space station despite Russian skepticism about the project and has no formal indication that Moscow does not want to be part of the effort, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstein told the Space business Roundtable on Monday.

"The [Lunar] Gateway is in its formative days right now...

and we would welcome a partnership from Russia," Bridenstein said. "I have not heard anybody at this point, including Russia, indicate they do now want to be part of our activities to get back to the surface of the moon."

Bridenstein was responding to a question about remarks by Roscosmos chief Dimitry Rogozin, who said on Saturday that Russia will not participate in the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway with the United States as the project is currently envisioned and may create its own manned platform to orbit the moon.