A

David

Darling

Russian Space Agency

The Russian Space Agency (RKA) is an agency formed after the breakup of the former Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Soviet space program. RKA uses the technology and launch sites that belonged to the former Soviet space program and has centralized control of Russia's civilian space program, including all manned and unmanned nonmilitary spaceflights. The prime contractor used by the RKA is Energia Rocket & Space Corporation, which owns and operates the Mission Control Center in Kaliningrad. The military counterpart of RKA is the Military Space Forces (VKS) which controls the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. RKA and VKS share control of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, where the RKA reimburses the VKS for the wages of many of the flight controllers during civilian launches. RKA and VKS also share control of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.