(CNN) No longer confined to territories here on Earth, Russia has now staked its claim on Venus, saying it is a "Russian planet." This week, Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space corporation Roscosmos, revealed that the country plans to send its own mission to Venus in addition to "Venera-D," the planned joint mission with the US, the Russian state news agency TASS reported. "We think that Venus is a Russian planet, so we shouldn't lag behind," he said. According to the European Space Agency, the Russians do have significant experience when it comes to Venus. Its website states: "Between 1967-1984 Venusian studies carried out in Russia were at the forefront of international research into this planet.

Source: The Nation September 18, 2020 17:26 UTC