THE NEW SPACE RACE: Russian space official: “We need to stop lying to ourselves” about health of industry.

In his message to the corporation’s thousands of employees, Maltsev said Energia is having difficulty paying wages and delivering the spacecraft and other products it is contracted to build.

“We need to stop lying to ourselves and others about the state of affairs, convincing ourselves and others that everything is fine with us,” he wrote. “The time demands decisive action from us—not to sit, but to fight for the enterprise. I suggest that everyone answer the question honestly: are you ready to work for the result and make a real contribution?”

Maltsev, who was appointed director general of Energia just three months ago, closed his dark missive by suggesting it will take a miracle to save the historic space corporation.

This is an extraordinary statement coming from a senior leader within Russia’s space industry. Although it is widely understood that Russia’s space program is in decline, the most common tactic among Russian officials is to bluster about past greatness and talk about all the new programs that are under development.

What a sad state of affairs for the country that put the first satellite and the first man into space.

More: “In reality, the Russian space program is chronically underfunded, and the war against Ukraine has only accelerated the depletion of talent and resources. Russia cannot afford new spacecraft and rockets when it needs munitions and men for the front lines.”

Putin can have a space program, or he can keep throwing away hundreds of thousands of lives for minimal gains in Ukraine.

He seems to prefer the latter, so that’s what he’ll get.