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A senior official of the Interfax news agency quoted Russia as saying that it would begin sending its own mission to Mars after the European Space Agency suspended a joint project following a military operation in Ukraine.

The European Space Agency announced on Thursday that it would not continue to cooperate with Russia on the Exomars program. Russia’s rocket is scheduled to take a European – made exploration to Mars later this year.

Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos), said: “In the future, we will begin the journey to Mars.

Interfox quoted him as saying he did not believe there was a need for research because the Russian craft designed to carry the research could do the necessary scientific work.

Rokosin said there was “great doubt” about what the European Space Agency could do without Russia, which already has a missile, launch pad and landing site. He said it would take at least six years for ESA to build its own module.

In response to sanctions, Roscosmos has already suspended cooperation with Europe in space launches and announced that it will stop supplying rocket engines to the United States.