Space debris a serious problem: Cosmonaut

Mikhail Kornienko while addressing a gathering on his space travels at Rosatom Festival of Science and Culture in Mumbai on Thursday. DH Photo

Mikhail Kornienko, a Russian cosmonaut who was on a year-long mission aboard International Space Station from March 2015 to 2016 highlighted the problem of space debris while addressing a gathering on his space travels at Rosatom Festival of Science and Culture in Mumbai.

"Space debris is a serious issue," said Kornienko adding, "Indian and Chinese space programmes are making great progress and there is a need for joint efforts by countries like Russia, India and China for the success of space exploration. There is a scope of higher participation in space science for private sector players from India and Russia."

He said the eagerly-awaited manned travel for conducting scientific research in space will take at least another 15-20 years.