Russia has extensive experience in designing state-of-the-art space stations since the early 1960s

India is looking to install Russian-developed equipment for life support and heating systems aboard the Gaganyaan, the spacecraft that will be used for the nation’s first manned space mission, Roscosmos has announced.

The contract to review the possibility was signed by the head of Russian space agency Roscosmos subsidiary and launch service provider Glavkosmos, and the Human Space Flight Center of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is responsible for the Gaganyaan project.

If approved, the project will be implemented by Russian spacecraft maker Energia.

Last year, Russia and India signed a landmark deal that includes cooperation on space projects. Since then, the two sides have agreed on the potential joint development of “futuristic technology,” and New Delhi signalled that it could buy rocket engines from Moscow.