Russia seeks US collaboration on Mars missions

Russia is looking to strengthen its space partnership with the United States. President Vladimir Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, announced plans to discuss Mars missions with Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX. Dmitriev expressed optimism about potential collaboration, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in the space sector. He mentioned that Russia aims to boost its space agency, Roscosmos, and its nuclear corporation, Rosatom. These discussions come as U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to revive dialogue with Russia regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump and Putin were scheduled to speak, focusing on achieving a ceasefire in the war, which has lasted for three years. Dmitriev highlighted Musk's contributions to space exploration and stated that meetings between Russian officials and Musk would likely happen soon. He is currently in contact with various organizations to facilitate this collaboration. In 2022, Russia began planning its own Mars missions after a joint project with the European Space Agency was paused due to the Ukraine conflict. This initiative reflects Russia's commitment to advancing its space exploration goals despite current global tensions.