Russia patents space station with artificial gravity as ISS era ends

Russia plans to develop a rotating space station designed to generate artificial gravity, aiming to protect astronaut health during long-term space missions. With its commitment to the International Space Station (ISS) ending in 2028 and the ISS itself slated for deorbiting by 2030, Russia’s state rocket company Energia has patented a large, modular rotating structure that simulates 0.5g (half of Earth's gravity) by spinning at five revolutions per minute. The design features habitable modules extending radially from a central spine, using centrifugal force to mimic gravity and counteract the muscle and bone deterioration caused by prolonged weightlessness. The proposed station represents a significant engineering challenge, requiring multiple rocket launches and complex orbital assembly. A major safety concern is the difficulty of docking spacecraft with a constantly spinning station, which poses collision risks. While Russia has not committed funding or a timeline, this patent signals its intent to pursue independent, high-tech space infrastructure beyond the ISS era. Concurrently, Russia is working on