|
Q. What do you expect of future space development?
 In the 21st century, humanity must - and this is very important for future generations to understand - go to the next stage, to start using space technology for practical purposes. Until now, space technology has solved problems almost exclusively of a communications or information-gathering nature. Now, space science must be combined with the study of energy, to try to save human civilization from the energy crisis. For that we must solve the problem of reliable interplanetary travel, of the construction of a base on the moon for the development of a source of energy. In 30 to 50 years, Earth's reserves of oil, gas and coal will be completely depleted. Existing nuclear power plants are ecologically unsafe and won't be able to meet the demand for energy. So the question of where to get electricity will be very serious.
To ensure the continued existence of our civilizations, we need the combined efforts of many countries.
Soviet engineers, with generous funding from our government, solved many complicated problems by themselves: spaceship rendezvous, the construction of large orbital stations, long-term stay in space, controlled descent and safe landing of spacecraft. These are essential technologies in space-related fields, and amazingly, many of them have remained exclusive to our space program. Even the United States has used our rendezvous and docking technology and experience. The Europeans have been studying our accomplishments, but so far their projects have not materialized.
In the 21st century, we must combine our efforts to put the fruits of space research into practice. For this, it is absolutely necessary that our national leaders show political will.
[interviewed on February 12, 2004]
|
