BY:SpaceEyeNews.
Russian Orbital Station: A “New” Station Built from Old Hardware
Russia’s Russian Orbital Station plan just took a sharp turn. For years, officials described a fresh post-ISS outpost with brand-new modules, new capabilities, and a very different orbit. Now, the most credible reporting points to a simpler, cheaper, and far more complicated reality: Russia may build the Russian Orbital Station by separating and reusing the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), then adding more elements later. phys.org
That sounds straightforward. It isn’t.
Reusing orbit-proven modules can save time and money. But it also brings every aging-station problem along for the ride. That includes heavier maintenance, tighter science margins, and the hard truth that “recycling” in orbit has limits. phys.org
Below is what we know so far, how we got here, and why this matters for the post-ISS era.
Russian Orbital Station plan flips
The core claim: reuse the ISS Russian segment
According to Phys.org’s fact-checked write-up (which cites a recent statement and Russian state media), the updated scenario would turn the Russian Orbital Station into a station built around the existing Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS. phys.org
The same report lists the modules expected to form that backbone: Zarya, Zvezda, Poisk, Rassvet, Nauka, and Pricha. phys.org
This is a major pivot from the earlier “all-new modules” messaging. It also changes what “new station” means in practice: not a clean-sheet design, but a strategic continuation of what Russia already flies.
Why this shift likely happened
The public rationale stresses practicality and geopolitics, but the simplest explanation is cost and schedule pressure. In the same Phys.org summary, the plan’s evolution is described as happening amid tighter resources and a changed international environment. phys.org
Even before this pivot, Russia’s post-ISS station roadmap already looked ambitious. One timeline described an inaugural launch of a key module in 2027, then more pieces later. phys.org
The new approach tries to keep a “station pathway” alive without paying the full price of starting over.
A new orbit that isn’t new
From polar ambitions to the ISS orbit
A huge part of the Russian Orbital Station storyline used to be orbit. Earlier plans emphasized a high-inclination, near-polar track, which helps with coverage of high latitudes and certain observation goals.
But the updated reporting says the station would instead fly at 51.6° inclination—the same inclination as the ISS. Phys.org reports Oleg Orlov said the Scientific and Technical Council supported deploying the station “as part of the Russian segment of the ISS,” and he also pointed to 51.6 degrees for the station’s orbit. phys.org
Phys.org further notes that Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov referenced a change away from a 96-degree (polar-style) concept toward the new inclination. phys.org
Why 51.6° is convenient
If Russia bases the Russian Orbital Station on ISS modules, sticking to the ISS inclination is the path of least resistance. It reduces propulsion demands, simplifies separation scenarios, and keeps existing logistics assumptions closer to reality.
There’s another practical angle too. Phys.org notes that this orbit supports launches from domestic launch sites and reduces reliance on Baikonur, while also mentioning recent operational complications at Baikonur. phys.org
The India cooperation angle
The same reporting also links the inclination choice to potential coordination with India’s future station planning. Phys.org says Manturov stated India was considering a similar orbit, which could support cooperation between the two stations. phys.org
That may become a real benefit. Or it may remain more aspiration than reality, depending on budgets and timelines.
Recycling ISS modules: smart shortcut or risky compromise?
The biological concern: microorganisms and station life
One of the most striking parts of this story is that the people discussing station reuse have also warned about the risks of long-lived orbital habitats.
Phys.org reports that commentary tied to Orlov raised concerns about bacteria and fungi accumulation over time and cited microbiological monitoring results. In one cited statement, 65% of analyzed samples exceeded regulatory requirements, and some organisms were linked to health relevance. phys.org
That doesn’t mean a station becomes unusable. It does mean long-duration operations demand relentless cleaning, monitoring, and system upkeep. Those tasks eat time and money.
The hardware concern: age, fatigue, and leaks
If the Russian Orbital Station inherits ISS modules, it also inherits their age profile. Phys.org notes that some of these modules date back decades and describes ongoing issues tied to harsh orbital conditions, including material fatigue and air leaks that require continuous maintenance. phys.org
That maintenance burden matters because every hour spent fixing hardware is an hour not spent doing high-value research.
The schedule reality: what Russia previously planned
The same Phys.org piece outlines how Russia’s concepts shifted over time. It describes earlier iterations that targeted a 2027 launch for a major module, additional modules by 2030, and potential further expansion by 2035—including discussion of a possible private tourism habitat. phys.org
So the “recycle the ISS segment” approach is not a small tweak. It reshapes the entire development arc.
Why this matters for the post-ISS era
The ISS is heading toward a planned 2030 end-of-life
NASA has been very clear that the ISS is approaching a planned transition. In June 2024, NASA announced it selected SpaceX to develop and deliver a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to safely deorbit the ISS at end of life. NASA
NASA also published an ISS Deorbit Analysis Summary that describes deorbiting the station into a remote ocean area at the end of its useful life in 2030. NASA
Those dates matter because Russia’s station decision sits inside the same calendar window. If the ISS winds down in 2030, then any Russian “segment separation” plan has to sync with the broader end-of-ISS choreography.
Russia’s ISS commitment window
Public reporting has repeatedly referenced Russia staying with ISS operations into the late 2020s. For example, Reuters reported in mid-2025 that Russia confirmed participation in the ISS until 2028, while still talking about launching first modules of a new station in 2027. Reuters
If Russia now aims to pivot from “new modules” to “reuse existing ones,” it could be trying to keep continuity through the ISS transition without a big gap in crewed operations.
A crowded field is moving fast
Even as Russia rethinks its approach, other station plans continue to mature. The post-ISS marketplace includes commercial concepts and national programs. Phys.org points to multiple private station projects and mentions India’s proposed station timeline targets as well. phys.org
This is the key competitive pressure: the future is not “one ISS replacement.” It’s many platforms, each chasing different customers and research goals.
What to watch next
1) A clear technical plan for separation
The big unanswered question is engineering detail. Separating modules is not like undocking a capsule. Russia will need to show how it plans to power, control, and safely operate a standalone complex made from ISS-era hardware—then upgrade it.
2) Funding and manufacturing signals
Watch for procurement, contracts, and module production milestones. In the past, big station plans often stayed abstract until factories started cutting metal.
3) A realistic science promise
The Russian Orbital Station will need a crisp value proposition: what research becomes easier or unique on this platform, given its orbit choice and older module heritage?
4) International interfaces
If Russia truly aims for coordination with India’s future station orbit and operations, the proof will show up in joint working groups, docking standards talk, and flight opportunities. phys.org
Conclusion: Russian Orbital Station becomes a test of “reuse in orbit”
The Russian Orbital Station story now reads like an experiment in orbital pragmatism. Instead of building a clean, modern station from scratch, Russia appears to be betting on a faster path: reuse what already exists, keep a familiar orbit, then add capability later. phys.org
That choice can preserve continuity and reduce near-term costs. It also locks the project into the limits of aging systems and higher upkeep. Meanwhile, NASA’s planned ISS endgame and deorbit preparations keep the calendar pressure high. NASA+1
If Russia pulls this off, the Russian Orbital Station could become the most important real-world case study in whether “recycling” large orbital infrastructure is a smart bridge to the future—or a gamble that narrows options in the post-ISS era.
Main sources :
- Phys.org (fact-checked summary citing Orlov/TASS and discussing orbit change, module list, and concerns): phys.org
- NASA (U.S. Deorbit Vehicle selection news release): NASA
- NASA (ISS Deorbit Analysis Summary PDF): NASA
- Reuters (Russia ISS participation until 2028; station modules timeline references): Reuters