Initial Progress

Like the Soviet space program before it, the Russian Space Agency has constantly had a lack of funding. This complicated efforts, such as the Soviet attempt at a moon mission, and later cooperation with the International Space Station. The 1990's saw a decreased cash flow, which encouraged Roskosmos to improvise and seek other ways to keep space programs running. This resulted in Roskosmos' leading role in commercial satellite launches and space tourism. While scientific missions, such as interplanetary probes or astronomy missions during these years played a very small role, Roskosmos managed to operate the space station Mir well past its lifetime, contribute to the International Space Station, and continue to fly additional Soyuz and Progress missions.
Since 1992 Yuri Koptev was appointed as the General Director of Roscosmos.