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Three fourths of Russians convinced their country is leader in space — survey

Among other leaders in space, Russians named the United States (66%) and China (46%)

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. A total of 76% of Russians view their country among global leaders in space exploration, the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) said in its Cosmonautics Day research.

Among other leaders in space, Russians named the United States (66%) and China (46%).

A total of 90% of respondents believe that Russia should continue to engage in space exploration. Only seven percent were against further researches.

About 42% of respondents said Russia should intensify its activities in space, but 41% believes that the current level of space research is sufficient. Nine percent are in favor of cutting expenditures for space exploration.

According to Russians, the main goal of space exploration is to develop science and advanced technologies (49%), to boost defense capabilities (44%), to develop the space industry and create jobs (24%).

The survey was conducted on April 10, 2019 among 1,600 respondents. With the possibility of 95%, the margin of error does not exceed 2.5%.

April 12 is marked as the Cosmonautics Day in Russia and some of its neighbors, and as the International Day of Human Space Flight worldwide. On that day in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin for the first time ever circled the Earth for 1 hour and 48 minutes aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft in 1961. On 12 April 1981, exactly 20 years after Vostok 1, a US Space Shuttle STS-1 (Columbia) was launched for the first orbital flight.

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