---
title: "One-Country Space Race? Russia Starts Moon Landing Trials With Plans to Colonize by 2045"
description: "While other countries are looking for new planets for humans to inhabit, Russian cosmonauts have started preparing for a planned colonization of the Moon. This perhaps shortsighted plan aims to put the first Russians on the surface of the Earth's lone satellite between 2025 and 2045."
date: "2016-09-22"
modified: "2016-11-29"
authors:
  - name: "Dom Galeon"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/domgaleon"
url: "https://futurism.com/one-country-space-race-russia-starts-moon-landing-trials-with-plans-to-colonize-by-2045"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Moon"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "Roscosmos"
  - "russian moon mission"
  - "space race 2016"
  - "the moon"
---

# One-Country Space Race? Russia Starts Moon Landing Trials With Plans to Colonize by 2045

![russian moon mission roscosmos space race 2016](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Lunar-Colony.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Getty\</em\>*

It's like the space race of the '60s and '70s all over again. Not only is Russia trying to figure out how easy it would be for their cosmonauts to walk on the Moon's surface, they're using 1970s technology to do it.

Russian state-backed space agency [Roscosmos](<http://en.roscosmos.ru/>) has revealed that it plans to send manned missions to the Moon some time between 2025 and 2045. By then, more than 60 years will have passed since Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong's "one giant leap for mankind" ended the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

![Credit: Roscosmos](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/nintchdbpict000268215063.jpg>)
*Credit: Roscosmos*

The Russians are, of course, not relying entirely on Soviet-era tech. The European Space Agency (ESA) is [reportedly](<http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/29048/20160922/esa-teams-up-russian-roscosmos-lunar-mission.htm>) assisting Russia on the mission, and Roscosmos claims that it is working with [RSC Energia](<http://www.energia.ru/english/>) to develop new and better spacesuits to facilitate walking on the Moon.

At a time when much of space technological development is geared towards [intergalactic colonization](<https://futurism.com/?s=SpaceX+Elon+Musk+Colonization>), Russia decides to take a rather unusual course that some criticize as being outdated, including Russian Academy of Cosmonautics member Yury Karash, who [thinks the plan](<https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1814635/russia-begins-moon-landing-trials-as-moscow-plans-large-lunar-settlement-by-2045/>) will only serve to "emphasize Russian technological backwardness."

No matter. [Elon Musk can have Mars](<https://futurism.com/next-week-elon-musk-may-finally-reveal-his-plans-for-the-colonization-of-mars>). Vladimir Putin will settle for the Moon.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-john-galeon-9b086925/>)  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/domgaleon>)