The programe aims to create an inhabited lunar base and mining on the moon by the middle of the 21st century. Picture: Andrey Sokolov, Alexey Leonov

Newspaper Izvestia obtained details of the Russian Lunar Concept project, drafted by the Russian Academy of Science, the Federal Space Agency and the Moscow State University. Launches for the ambitious project will be made from the new cosmodrome now under construction in Amur region.

The programe aims to create an inhabited lunar base and mining on the moon by the middle of the 21st century. The first phase of the programe is proposed for 2016 and should start from sending to the Moon four automatic interplanetary stations called Luna-25, Luna-26, Luna-27 and Luna-28. They will examine the composition and physicochemical properties of the lunar ground and decide the best area of the moon's South Pole to start constructing the base and the mining field.

The second phase, planned for the years 2018-2030, includes manned expeditions to the moon's orbit without landing on its surface. The third phase from 2030-2040 should see building of the first part of Lunar observatory, as well as facilities for Earth monitoring. Only limited foreign co-operation will be involved.

The first phase of the programe is proposed for 2016 and should start from sending to the Moon four automatic interplanetary stations called Luna-25, Luna-26, Luna-27 and Luna-28. Pictures: Andrey Sokolov, Alexey Leonov; Nikolay Kolchitsky; Nikolay Nedbailo

'We have to explore the Moon in a dynamic manner, because in the coming 20-to-30 years world's leading space states will be exploring and taking to themselves the most convenient areas of the Moon to ensure their future practical usage'. Russian deputy premier Dmitry Rogozin said recently: 'We are coming to the moon forever,' he wrote in an article in Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper.

Mars and other 'space objects' as future priorities. 'Flights to Mars and asteroids in our view do not contradict exploration of the moon, but in many senses imply this process.'

'We have to explore the Moon in a dynamic manner, because in the coming 20-to-30 years world's leading space states will be exploring and taking to themselves the most convenient areas of the Moon to ensure their future practical usage'. Pictures: Andrey Sokolov, Alexey Leonov; Nikolay Kolchitsky; Nikolay Nedbailo

The first stage of the national Lunar program will cost approximate 28,5 billion rubles (813 million US dollars).