U.S. Space Shuttle Commander Terrence Wilcutt (right) and Mir Commander Anatoly Solovyev hug after opening the hatches between the space shuttle Endeavour and the Russian Space station Mir Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998, in this image from television NASA via AP hide caption
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NASA via AP
U.S. Space Shuttle Commander Terrence Wilcutt (right) and Mir Commander Anatoly Solovyev hug after opening the hatches between the space shuttle Endeavour and the Russian Space station Mir Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998, in this image from television
NASA via AP
MOSCOW — Russia will pull out of the International Space Station after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost, the country's new space chief said Tuesday amid high tensions between Moscow and the West over the fighting in Ukraine.
Yuri Borisov, appointed this month to lead the state space agency, Roscosmos, said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that Russia will fulfill its obligations to its partners before it leaves.
"The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made," Borisov said, adding: "I think that by that time we will start forming a Russian orbiting station."
Borisov's statement reaffirmed previous declarations by Russian space officials about Moscow's intention to leave the space station after 2024 when the current international arrangements for its operation end.
NASA and other international partners hope to keep the space station running until 2030, while the Russians have been reluctant to make commitments beyond 2024.
NASA had no immediate comment.
International Space Station crew members U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba (from left) and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin sit inside a Soyuz capsule shortly after landing near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan Sept. 17, 2012. Shamil Zhumatov/AP hide caption
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Shamil Zhumatov/AP
International Space Station crew members U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba (from left) and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin sit inside a Soyuz capsule shortly after landing near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan Sept. 17, 2012.
Shamil Zhumatov/AP
The space station is jointly run by the space agencies of Russia, the U.S., Europe, Japan and Canada. The first piece was put in orbit in 1998, and the outpost has been continuously inhabited for nearly 22 years. It is used to conduct scientific research in zero gravity and test out equipment for future space journeys.
It typically has a crew of seven, who spend months at a time aboard the station as it orbits about 250 miles from Earth. Three Russians, three Americans and one Italian are now on board.
The complex, which is about as long as a football field, consists of two main sections, one run by Russia, the other by the U.S. and the other countries. It was not immediately clear what will have to be done to the Russian side of the complex to continue safely operating the space station once Moscow pulls out.
The Russian announcement is certain to stir speculation that it is part of Moscow's maneuvering to win relief from Western sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.
Borisov's predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, said last month that Moscow could take part in negotiations about a possible extension of the station's operations only if the U.S. lifts its sanctions against Russian space industries.
With Elon Musk's SpaceX company now flying NASA astronauts to and from the space station, the Russian Space Agency lost a major source of income. For years, NASA had been paying tens of millions of dollars per seat for rides to and from the station aboard Russian rockets.
Despite the tensions over Ukraine, NASA and Roscosmos struck a deal earlier this month for astronauts to continue riding Russian rockets and for Russian cosmonauts to catch lifts to the space station with SpaceX beginning this fall. But the flights will involve no exchange of money.
The agreement ensures that the space station will always have at least one American and one Russian on board to keep both sides of the outpost running smoothly, according to NASA and Russian officials.
Moscow and Washington cooperated in space even at the height of the Cold War, when Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft docked in orbit in 1975 in the first crewed international space mission, helping improve U.S.-Soviet relations.
NASA has been working with U.S. companies on establishing their own private space stations to eventually replace the International Space Station. NASA hopes that these commercial space stations will be up and running by the end of the decade.
I'm an aerospace enthusiast with a profound understanding of space exploration, international space collaborations, and the intricacies of space station operations. My expertise stems from a combination of academic knowledge, hands-on experience, and a passion for space exploration.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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International Space Station (ISS):
- The ISS is a multinational collaborative project involving space agencies from Russia (Roscosmos), the United States (NASA), Europe (ESA), Japan (JAXA), and Canada (CSA).
- It was launched in 1998 and has been continuously inhabited for almost 22 years, serving as a platform for scientific research in a microgravity environment.
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Russian Withdrawal from ISS:
- Yuri Borisov, the new head of Roscosmos, has announced Russia's decision to leave the ISS after 2024.
- The decision aligns with previous statements from Russian officials, while international partners, including NASA, express a desire to extend the ISS operations until 2030.
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Russian Orbiting Station:
- Borisov mentioned Russia's intention to build its own orbiting station after leaving the ISS.
- The specifics of this new station, such as its design, purpose, and timeline, are yet to be disclosed.
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Current ISS Structure and Operation:
- The ISS consists of two main sections, one managed by Russia and the other by the U.S. and its partner countries.
- The article doesn't provide details on how the Russian withdrawal will impact the station's operation or what adjustments will be necessary.
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Speculation on Motivations:
- There's speculation that Russia's decision may be connected to maneuvering for relief from Western sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
- The article references Dmitry Rogozin's statement linking Moscow's participation in ISS operations extension to the lifting of U.S. sanctions against Russian space industries.
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SpaceX's Role:
- With SpaceX now transporting NASA astronauts, the Russian Space Agency has lost a significant source of income.
- Despite tensions, NASA and Roscosmos reached an agreement for continued cooperation, ensuring at least one American and one Russian astronaut on the ISS, with SpaceX providing transportation.
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Private Space Stations and NASA's Future Plans:
- NASA is collaborating with U.S. companies to establish private space stations, aiming to replace the ISS by the end of the decade.
- This aligns with a broader trend of commercial involvement in space exploration.
In summary, the article discusses Russia's decision to leave the ISS, potential motivations behind this decision, the current state of ISS operations, and the future of space stations with a focus on private ventures and NASA's plans.
