According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Russian cosmonauts have gained great experience working in orbit and have conducted a large number of scientific experiments at the ISS.

All this gives grounds to contemplate launching a project to create a major research base on the Moon, Rogozin said.

Rogozin said that such a project could contribute to a "breakthrough" in the development of Russia's space industry, which is going through hard times at the moment.

A total of 6 space launches have been cancelled in Russia for technical reasons in the past 18 months.

Source: Voice of Russia