--- title: "Head of Russian Space Program Criticizes “Billionaire Oligarchs”" description: "Roscosmos chief Dmitriy Rogozin congratulated Virgin Galactic CEO Richard Branson after his successful flight to 50 miles on Sunday." date: "2021-07-13" modified: "2021-07-13" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/head-russian-space-program-criticizes-billionaire-oligarchs" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "dmitry rogozin" - "elon musk" - "Roscosmos" - "the digest" --- # Head of Russian Space Program Criticizes “Billionaire Oligarchs” ![Roscosmos chief Dmitriy Rogozin congratulated Virgin Galactic CEO Richard Branson after his successful flight to 50 miles on Sunday.]() *\Image: Government of the Russian Federation/Futurism\* ## Unusual Compliment Dmitry Rogozin, the leader of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, congratulated Virgin Galactic CEO Richard Branson after his [successful flight to 50 miles on Sunday](). On Twitter, [Rogozin called]() Branson's flight a landmark achievement in space travel. He even went as far as decrying Russia's "billionaire oligarchs" in a [followup tweet](), saying they'd rather spend money on yachts than developing spacecraft. The sentiment even got a reaction out of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who [replied]() with a pair of hand clapping emojis. It was a back-handed compliment, as Rogozin also pointed out that suborbital flight — Branson didn't technically reach space — "has nothing to do with professional astronautics." All told, it was a rare outburst coming from a man who has repeatedly butted heads with NASA and Musk, as [*Ars Technica* points out](). ## Budget Constraints Rogozin has repeatedly criticized SpaceX's space ambitions. Last summer for instance, following SpaceX's [successful crewed mission]() to the ISS, Rogozin lashed out in [a lengthy column](). Rogozin also [announced last year]() that Russia has "no interest" in participating in a joint effort with NASA to return astronauts to the Moon. The chief even [accused the US]() of sabotaging Russia's space program last year after the Trump administration leveraged economic sanctions against a long list of Russian and Chinese companies. So has Rogozin changed his mind when it comes to the value of the private space industry? Roscosmos is reportedly facing a serious budget crunch and little political appetite for big space exploration projects, according to *Ars*. One way to solve these budgetary constraints, as we have seen in NASA's actions recently, is to leverage private partners — as well as billionaires like Musk. ## Moving On It's highly unlikely Rogozin has chosen to bury the hatchet. Simply put, Russia wants nothing to do with the West, and is pushing ahead with its own space projects — while [warming up to China]() in the process. The country is simultaneously moving ahead with its plans to [abandon the International Space Station]() and [launch its own orbital outpost]() in its stead. Whether that will allow the country to catch up with NASA and SpaceX is anybody's guess. **READ MORE:** [Russia’s space chief wishes his oligarchs invested in space like Branson and Musk]() \[*Ars Technica*\] **More on Rogozin:** *[Russian Space Chief Accuses US of Sabotaging Russian Space Program]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()