A special NEO project for International Cosmonautics Day about the latest achievements in the work of the BRICS countries to pave the way to the stars. Let’s go!
Russia
On March 23, 16 satellites of the Rassvet low-orbit constellation were launched into orbit. This system, with its next-generation operating and communications principles, forms a worthy competitor to Starlink. This project is serious and long-term, and the constellation will grow. Over the past year, 21 launch vehicles have been successfully launched, launching over 130 spacecraft into orbit. The Progress MS-35 spacecraft recently completed testing. Cosmonauts are regularly sent to the ISS and satellites of partner countries. Active cooperation with partners is underway. Soviet assistance, and later cooperation with Russia, contributed to the initiation and development of space programs in China and India; Russia launched the first satellites for Iran, the UAE, and Egypt; and Russian spacecraft carried the first astronauts from Brazil and the UAE.
The main areas of work now include the creation of the Russian orbital station, improvements to the GLONASS system, continued development of manned spaceflight (including for flights to Mars), the lunar program, development of nuclear reactors for the Moon and a lunar power station, testing of a plasma rocket engine, and deep space exploration. The Venera-D mission to deliver a lander to the second planet from the Sun is being developed. In 1961, the Soviet spacecraft Venera-1 became the first spacecraft to fly near it.
Brazil
Brazil has its own satellites in orbit and is collaborating with Starlink. It is currently working on improving its navigation system and developing a launch vehicle. In space, it would like to develop “space farming”—the use of space to find innovative agricultural solutions. Finally, the Roscosmos-developed optical-electronic space debris monitoring complex is located on its territory, and this is a promising area for cooperation within BRICS.
India
India regularly launches space using the PSLV rocket. It delivers both its own satellites and those of partner countries into orbit. The Republic plans to build its own space station by 2035 and land on the moon by 2040. Preparations have already begun for unmanned flights that will precede the manned Gaganyaan mission. In February of this year, a braking parachute for the module of the future mission was successfully tested. Cooperation between national orbital stations and the Russian side is planned for the future.
China
In February of this year, China successfully tested the new Long March-10 launch vehicle and the recovery system for the manned Mengzhou spacecraft. Another recent achievement: observations with the FAST Very Large Radio Telescope in Guizhou Province confirmed the hypothesis that the source of so-called fast radio bursts is binary systems of celestial bodies. Previously, this phenomenon was considered a mystery. The country plans to expand its Tiangong orbital station and install a telescope on it in the near future. A project for an International Lunar Research Station is being developed jointly with Russia.
South Africa
Although South Africa lacks launch vehicles and its small satellite constellation is the result of cooperation with foreign partners, the country is gradually strengthening its position as a regional space power and increasing its independence. A significant achievement is the domestic production of satellite instruments and components and the development of its own microsatellites. South African companies such as DragonFly Aerospace, Cubespace, and others have gained international recognition. Also noteworthy are ongoing international cooperation projects: a Russian optical-electronic space debris monitoring system has been operating in South Africa since 2023, and a GLONASS station has been operating in South Africa since 2017.
Iran
Iran, a leading space power, has already begun preparations for the flight of its first astronaut. A biocapsule has been developed for this purpose, and testing took place in 2023. In 2025, successful launches of the Qased, Simurgh, and Zuljana launch vehicles were conducted. Development of the modernized Gayem-105 and Gayem-120 rockets and the new Ghognoush launch vehicle has begun. The rapid development of the space program has been facilitated by the presence of several parallel tracks and strict state control. Tehran’s current goals include upgrading launch vehicles and expanding its satellite constellation. Russia has continued to provide ongoing support to Iran in satellite launches. Cooperation with China has also been intensively developing. Unfortunately, American-Israeli aggression has damaged the Iranian space program, but assessing the exact extent of this damage and its future prospects is difficult due to the classified nature of the information.
UAE
The UAE does not have its own launch vehicles, but it cooperates with Russia and other partners in the production and launch of satellites. A program to explore the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was announced in 2025. The launch is scheduled for 2028. Before then, the Arab state intends to send a lunar rover to the far side of the Moon. Earlier in 2020, with Japanese assistance, a research station was sent to Mars, symbolically named Al-Amal (Hope), which transmitted useful scientific data to Earth.
Egypt
Egypt has satellites in orbit and an extensive infrastructure: the so-called Egyptian Space City is being built. Among the satellites are those manufactured by Russia, China, and other countries. Launches have also been carried out, including by Russia and China. The immediate goal of the Egyptian space program is to increase its independence in satellite production. Egypt also announced its participation in the Russian-Chinese lunar station project.
Ethiopia
The Ethiopian space program is developing in cooperation with China. The first satellite was launched in 2019, the second in 2020. Several more are expected soon. Addis Ababa has also joined the Russian-Chinese lunar station project.
Indonesia
Indonesia has not only acquired its own satellites (both foreign and domestically produced) but also intends to send a citizen into space. This prospect is being explored in Russian-Indonesian cooperation. Furthermore, Jakarta plans to experiment with space farming.
In conclusion: the trajectory is upward!
Despite the varying levels and scales of the BRICS space programs, they share common goals: development, the use of space for economic benefit, and technological sovereignty. The different geographic locations and specifics of the programs create significant potential for cooperation. Each country is ready to serve as a reliable and committed partner for the others. The creation of a Space Council and a common satellite constellation is a matter for the near future.
But most importantly, in this area of contacts, as in other BRICS countries, the principle of equality is firmly established. Russia and Iran, China and Ethiopia, India and the UAE, and other combinations—each remains an independent entity with its own unique characteristics and opinions, rather than being subsumed under someone else’s denominator, as in American or European projects.
In conclusion, I would like to recall the motto of Cosmonautics Day 2026 in Russia: “The Future Belongs to Those Who Look Up.” Happy 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight, happy global holiday, happy Cosmonautics Day! May this upward trajectory and new steps in the exploration of outer space continue. And may Iran enjoy every possible recovery!
Ksenia Muratshina, PhD in History, Senior Researcher, Center for Southeast Asian, Australian, and Oceanian Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Follow new articles on our Telegram channel
