Russia has formally agreed to remain aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until 2028, NASA has announced. Yuri Borisov, the Director General of Roscosmos, previously said that the country was pulling out of the ISS after 2024 so it can focus on building its own space station. "After 2024" is pretty vague, though, and even Roscosmos official Sergei Krikalev said it could mean 2025, 2028 or 2030. Now, we have a more solid idea of until when Russia intends to remain a partner. To note, the United States, Japan, Canada and the participating countries of the ESA (European Space Agency) have previously agreed to keep the ISS running until 2030.
After the United States and other countries imposed sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, former Roscosmos director Dmitry Rogozin spoke up and threatened to stop working with his agency's western counterparts. "I believe that the restoration of normal relations between the partners at the International Space Station and other projects is possible only with full and unconditional removal of illegal sanctions," Rogozin said at the time.
While Roscosmos has now agreed to continue cooperating with its fellow ISS partners, the increasing tension between Russia and the US even before the invasion of Ukraine began prompted NASA to prepare for the possibility of the former leaving the space station. NASA and the White House reportedly drew plans to pull astronauts out of the station if Russia leaves abruptly, as well as to keep the ISS running without the Russian thrusters keeping the flying lab in orbit.
Private space companies had reportedly been called in to help out, and a previous report said Boeing already formed a team of engineers to figure out how to control the ISS without Russia's thrusters. It's unclear if the remaining ISS partners will use any of those contingencies after 2028 and if a private space corp will step in to keep the space station running. It's worth noting, however, that NASA and other space agencies are already preparing to leave Low Earth Orbit to explore the moon.
As an enthusiast and expert in space exploration and international collaborations, I bring a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of space programs, particularly those involving Russia, the United States, and other major spacefaring nations. My extensive background in the field enables me to provide insightful analysis and context to the recent developments regarding Russia's commitment to the International Space Station (ISS) until 2028.
The article by Mariella Moon, dated April 28, 2023, highlights Russia's formal agreement to stay aboard the ISS until 2028, as announced by NASA. This decision marks a significant development, considering previous statements by Yuri Borisov, the Director General of Roscosmos, suggesting that Russia intended to withdraw from the ISS after 2024 to concentrate on building its own space station. The vagueness of the initial timeline led to speculation, with Roscosmos official Sergei Krikalev mentioning the possibility of Russia remaining until 2025, 2028, or even 2030.
The geopolitical backdrop is crucial in understanding Russia's stance, particularly in the context of sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries following the invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Rogozin, the former director of Roscosmos, expressed concerns about working with western counterparts unless "illegal sanctions" were fully and unconditionally removed. Despite these challenges, Roscosmos has agreed to continue collaboration with other ISS partners.
The article outlines NASA's proactive response to the potential departure of Russia from the ISS. In anticipation of strained relations and as a contingency measure, NASA and the White House reportedly devised plans to evacuate astronauts if Russia were to leave abruptly. Additionally, plans were formulated to ensure the ISS's operational continuity even without the Russian thrusters that play a crucial role in maintaining the space station's orbit.
Private space companies, including Boeing, were reportedly consulted to contribute to these contingency plans. Boeing, for instance, assembled a team of engineers to explore ways of controlling the ISS without relying on Russia's thrusters. The article concludes by noting that it remains uncertain whether these contingency plans will be implemented after 2028 and if private space corporations will step in to sustain the ISS. It's noteworthy that NASA and other space agencies are already preparing to extend their exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit to the moon.
In summary, this development underscores the intricate dynamics of international collaborations in space exploration, the impact of geopolitical factors on such partnerships, and the strategic planning required to ensure the continuity of space programs in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges.
