Putin OKs plan to turn Russian spacecraft into flying billboards

The news article discusses Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval of a plan to transform Russian spacecraft into flying billboards. The plan involves using the exterior of Soyuz spacecraft, the workhorse of Russia's space program, to display advertisements and corporate logos. This move is seen as an effort by Russia to generate additional revenue from its space activities, as the country faces economic challenges due to Western sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The article suggests that the first Soyuz mission to feature such advertising could be sponsored by the Wagner Group, a private military contractor with close ties to the Kremlin. The decision to commercialize Russian spacecraft has raised concerns about the potential impact on the country's space program and the perception of its scientific and technological achievements. Critics argue that this move could undermine the reputation and credibility of Russia's space agency and its space exploration efforts.