Russian Aviation and Space Agency is a Russian government agency that is responsible for space research and exploration. It was established as the Russian Space Agency on Feb. 25, 1992, after the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991. In 1999, the agency received its present name and was awarded control over more than 300 aviation companies. The agency continues the civilian work of the former Soviet space program. Another agency called the Military Space Forces is responsible for all Russian military space flights.