FARNBOROUGH, July 10 (Itar-Tass) — Vladimir Popovkin, the head of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, told a news conference on Tuesday that a Russian manned spaceship could head for the Moon if a theory about the presence of water resources on this natural Earth’s satellite is confirmed.
“A manned flight to the Moon will take place if a hypothesis that there’s water there turns out to be true,” Popovkin went on to say.
Popovkin said it was necessary to justify human presence on the Moon prior to starting scientific research and experiments.
“I believe that real exploration of the Moon and Mars is on our doorstep. Today, the Moon has such relics of human space activity as traces of the first man on its surface and a Soviet-made lunar rover,” Popovkin said.
He called on future generations to protect these relics and preserve them for humanity.
Popovkin also said that the international space law should be revised and modernized especially when it comes to the problem of space garbage, which, he believes, should be removed.
Popovkin told journalists that the Russian Aviation and Space Agency would welcome private companies’ participation in developing the space industry and developing remote sensing and communication systems.