MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. Russia’s decision to extend its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) project until 2028 is a temporary solution, because the country needs to build its own national orbital station, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

At a meeting on the development of the domestic rocket and space industry, Putin said the ISS turns 25 years in November. Therefore, the orbital station is supposed to end its mission next year, he continued.

"Since the ISS functioning would hardly be possible without Russia’s competence, we made the decision to continue our participation in the project until 2028. This evidently is a temporary solution," Putin said.

"As a leading space power, Russia should look far ahead and prioritize the tasks of our own sovereign long-term development and national security. That is why our specialists began to draft technical specifications of our own, Russian orbital station," the Russian leader added.

"Undoubtedly, a project like this needs to employ advanced science and research and have the inherent potential for achieving future tasks," he said, adding that all decisions related to the Russian Orbital Station should be made without delay.

In his words, the Russian Orbital Station’s orbital inclination will differ from that of the ISS. It will allow it "to cover practically the entire territory of Russia," which is "of utmost importance" for the country.

"As far as our orbital station is concern, it is designed to become our space exploration outpost. And, naturally, <…> it should contribute to our national interests in the sphere of security and economy to the greatest possible extent," Putin added.

The project’s chief designer Vladimir Kozhevnikov told TASS in February that the first module - the scientific and energy module - is planned for late 2027. In his words, the node, gateway, base and purpose-oriented modules are planned for launch between 2028 and 2030.