Russia's space agency chief declares Venus a "Russian planet"

[tgenerico]

Russia's space agency chief declares Venus a "Russian planet"

Moscow — If there is life on Venus, it might want to start learning Russian. The boss of Russia's government space agency has claimed it as a "Russian planet."

The bold territorial claim comes on the heels of scientific research suggesting life could exist on Earth's celestial neighbor, the second planet from the sun.

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin, who's known for espousing unconventional scientific views — and for frequently sarcastic anti-Western rhetoric — said this week that Russia wants to send its own mission to Venus, in addition to an already-proposed joint venture with the United States called "Venera-D."

"We think that Venus is a Russian planet, so we shouldn't lag behind," Rogozin, a former deputy prime minister, told reporters on Tuesday. He noted that the Soviet Union was "the first and the only one" to land a spacecraft on Venus.

"The spacecraft gathered information about the planet — it is like hell over there," he said in remarks quoted by the Tass news agency.

(more)

Notably, the USSR refrained from any territorial claims.

[MontanaMama]

1. "Venera-D"

Sounds an awful lot like something else...

[Zoonart]

2. Maybe they can send Red Don to plant the flag for them.

[CaptYossarian]

3. Vlad is just oozing with excitement.

He couldn't stop clapping.

[Wicked Blue]

4. They should get Uranus n/t

[Dem2]

5. Silly

I've seen this story several places, it's just trash-talking.

[samsingh]

6. i claim Jupiter

and its moons

[roamer65]

7. We want Europa.

[Le Roi de Pot]

8. Send Putin & Trump to Venus

[Greybnk48]

9. I call dibs on the Moon! So suck it, Russia! N/t