Russia boosts space spending
The country that oversaw the launch of the world's first artificial satellite hopes to regain some of its former glory with a big boost in space spending announced by Russia on Thursday after a series of failures.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev approved a plan to spend $68.71 billion on developing Russia's space industry. "The programme will enable our country to effectively participate in forward-looking projects, such as the International Space Station, the study of the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies in the solar system," Medvedev told state-run RIA news agency. (Reuters)
