How Russia is losing its space industry because of the war
The number of rockets Russia launches into space has been declining since 2014, when sanctions were first imposed on the country, while other space powers have rapidly expanded their launch capabilities. In 2024, Russia launched only 17 rockets, falling back to 1970s levels. For comparison, the United States conducted 152 launches last year. At this rate, Russia is nowhere close to “catching up and overtaking America.”
▫️ Due to sanctions, Russia has lost access to Western components, making it difficult to produce modern satellites and rockets. Since 2022, the international market has also been virtually closed to Russia, with no launches for foreign customers. Additionally, several ambitious space projects have been abandoned as state budget priorities have shifted toward military spending.
Despite Russian propaganda’s attempts to uphold the myth of Russia as a “mighty space power,” the reality is one of industry decline and stagnation.
