MOSCOW, April 12, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to Cosmonautics Day.
An overwhelming majority of Russians recognize Russia’s leadership in space exploration (76%). Other leaders are the U.S.A. (66%) and China (46%), according to Russians.
Ninety percent of respondents say that Russia should participate in space exploration, first and foremost, to develop science and high technologies (49%) and to maintain country’s military capability (44%). A quarter of respondents (24%) believe that Russia’s involvement in space exploration facilitates the development of airspace industry and helps create more jobs. Seventeen percent of respondents think that Russia can compete on equal terms with the U.S., the E.U. and China in space exploration.
Forty-two percent of Russians are confident that Russia should increase resources and make more efforts in space exploration (51% of the 45-59-year-olds). A further 41% of respondents say that no additional efforts should be made (49% of the 25-34- year-olds). Nine percent of respondents think that Russia should make less effort and spend less on space exploration.
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 10, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
In your opinion, what countries are leading in space exploration? (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of total respodnents; answers by at least 1% of respondents) | ||
| 2018 | 2019 |
Russia | 78 | 76 |
USA | 64 | 66 |
China | 45 | 46 |
Japan | 3 | 5 |
France | 1 | 3 |
India | 1 | 2 |
Germany | 1 | 1 |
England | 1 | 1 |
Korea | 1 | 1 |
Kazakhstan | - | 1 |
Don’t know | 15 | 15 |
In your opinion, should Russia participate in space exploration, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2018 | 2019 |
Rather yes | 90 | 90 |
Rather no | 6 | 7 |
Don’t know | 4 | 3 |
In your opinion, should Russia allocate more funds and make more efforts in space exploration, or should everything stay the way it is, or should Russia spend less and make less effort in space exploration? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Russia should make more efforts, including allocating additional funds | 42 | 35 | 29 | 40 | 51 | 47 |
Everything should stay the way it is | 41 | 47 | 49 | 41 | 34 | 40 |
Russia should make less effort and spend less | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
Don’t know | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
In your opinion, why should Russia participate in space exploration? (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of total respondents) | |||||
| 2005 | 2011 | 2012 | 2018 | 2019 |
To develop science and high technologies | 52 | 53 | 59 | 53 | 49 |
To maintain military capability | 44 | 44 | 54 | 46 | 44 |
To develop airspace industry, to create new jobs | 10 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 24 |
To make sure it can compete on equal terms with the USA, the EU, China | 10 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 |
To promote country’s image abroad | 17 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 14 |
To search for a new universe and establish extraterrestrial contact | 3 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
To participate with other countries in missions to Moon and Mars | 4 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
To develop space tourism | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Don’t know | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!