The Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Council has plans to revive a moon exploration program using lunar rovers, Russian media reported, citing a laboratory head from the academy's Space Research Institute.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, there are plans to start work on the design of a spacecraft in 2016 within the framework of the Luna-Lunokhod project.

"Yes, the decision on the Luna-Lunokhod project has been made and work is about to begin," Igor Mitrofanov, the head of nuclear planetology research at the Space Research Institute, was quoted as saying by the newspaper Thursday.

Mitrofanov said that prior to the start of the project, the Space Council's decisions were to be discussed at the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos where a work plan was developed and contracts were prepared.

After Roscosmos deals with its part, the Space Research Institute will gather a team to work on the project. Other institutes will also be invited to participate, according to Mitrofanov. Around 18 million rubles ($290,000) are reportedly expected to be spent on the work on the project in 2016.

Source: Sputnik News