Russian leader Vladimir Putin has set his ambitions on reaching Venus in ambitious plans for Russia's space programme

Vladimir Putin is plotting daring missions as the battle for space supremacy continues.

Kremlin deputy premier Denis Manturov today revealed his boss’ lofty ambitions for the Russian space programme. Putin, 73, is believed to be fascinated by Venus, the “Goddess of Love’s Planet”, which has historically been important for Russia's ambitions in space.

The Soviet Union achieved the first successful soft landing on another planet with the Venera 7 probe, which touched down on Venus on December 15, 1970. This mission marked a significant milestone in the space race.

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Manturov said: “Research missions to the Moon and Venus currently occupy a central place in the plans of [space agency] Roscosmos and the Russian Academy of Sciences for studying other celestial bodies.

“Back in 1970, our country succeeded in successfully landing a spacecraft on another planet in the solar system. And that was Venus. Therefore, we will probably move in this direction first. And then we'll see how successfully the assigned tasks will be accomplished.”

The “ambitious” mission to Venus “will require our country not only significant resources but also the search for unconventional engineering solutions,” said Manturov. "This requires talented and daring….young people who can take a fresh look at problems and offer fresh ideas.”

Putin wants to build on the 1970 Soviet Union unmanned Venera 7 spaceship’s mission to Venus. One theory is that a Venus launch would be from the Moon where Putin plans to build a lunar nuclear power plant within ten years.

Last month the dictator awarded Manturov, 57, with the country’s highest award - Hero of Russia honour.

Manturov’s gong - supposedly for Russian war and defence industry successes - was mocked by ex-speechwriter to Putin, Abbas Gallyamov, now a political analyst.

“They fight in Soviet tanks, fire Korean shells, and launch Iranian drones, but they still remember to reward themselves for their successes,” he said. But “rewards are like a tool of self-hypnosis”.

There is concern that space will be the next battleground for super powers with China's ambitions growing for the moon. Last autumn China said it is on track to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 as it introduced the next crew of astronauts who headed to its space station.

“Currently, each programme of the research and development work of putting a person on the moon is progressing smoothly,” said Zhang Jingbo, spokesman for the China Manned Space Programme, citing the Long March 10 rocket, moon landing suits and exploration vehicle as fruitful efforts of that work. “Our fixed goal of China landing a person on the moon by 2030 is firm.”

China sent up its latest rotation of astronauts who make up part of the ongoing mission to complete the Tiangong space station, part of its broader space exploration plans, on October 31. Each team stays inside the station for six months, conducting research.