Cosmic Cash: Russia to let brands plaster rockets with ads, raise funds for space exploration

Imagine you are watching one of the most vital rocket launches in your lifetime, when all of a sudden, you hear a very annoying voice, saying, “This rocket launch is brought to you by…”, all the while the video pans to the logo of a brand. In Russia, this may soon be a reality. Russian lawmakers are exploring an unconventional revenue source for the country’s space agency, Roscosmos. In a groundbreaking move, a group of senators and State Duma deputies have proposed a new bill that would allow brands to adorn the sides of space rockets with their ads. This innovative endeavour, they claim, has the potential to generate a staggering 200 million rubles or approximately $2.1 million in income for the Russian space agency. The legislation, introduced in the State Duma on Monday, seeks to open the door to advertising campaigns closely tied to ongoing space programs. Proponents argue that this initiative will serve multiple purposes. Not only will it help “popularise space activities,” but it will also draw young talent into the space industry while generating much-needed funds for the development of groundbreaking space projects. If the bill is enacted, outdoor advertising could grace various space infrastructure objects, and the income generated would be divided equally between the Russian federal budget and the state corporation, Roscosmos. Sergei Volkov, the head of the Department for Coordination and Management of Research and Development of Launch Vehicles at Roscosmos’ Progress Rocket and Space Center (RSC), revealed ongoing efforts to secure contracts for advertising on rockets. Volkov stated that certain areas on spacecraft are being designated for commercial purposes, with potential revenue streams on the horizon, as reported by TASS. This endeavour is not entirely new, as there was one previous instance where advertising was permitted on a space vehicle. The Soyuz rocket, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, bore the logo of Sberbank, a prominent financial institution. The bank’s CEO, Herman Gref, had sought permission from the former head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, to commemorate the bank’s 180th anniversary with this unique advertisement. This bold move to commercialise the assets of their space agency opens up new possibilities for funding space exploration in Russia, drawing attention to the infinite possibilities that lie beyond Earth’s atmosphere.