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Woman may head mission to Moon — Russian space agency

Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin said that professionalism and personal qualities are the most important factors for cosmonauts

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. A woman may head the mission to the Moon, head of Russian space agency Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin told reporters at a press conference dedicated to the 20th anniversay of the International Space Station (ISS).

"We don't have a gendered approach. We want professionalism <...> I do not rule out anything. It is very likely that a woman will head the mission [to the Moon]," Rogozin said.

He noted that professionalism and personal qualities are the most important factors for cosmonauts.

Rogozin reminded that women went to space many times, both as part of Russian and Soviet crews, and foreign crews. There is also one woman in the current ISS crew - NASA astronaut Serena Aunon.

Earlier at the conference, General Designer at RSC Energia Yevgeny Mirkin said that Russian cosomauts will first visit Moon after 2030. Their mission will last for 14 days.