The US might have imposed financial sanctions towards Russia over the warfare in Ukraine, however in area, the 2 international locations are discovering methods to proceed working collectively. NASA and Roscosmos have signed a long-awaited settlement to swap seats on flights to the International Space Station. After the area shuttle program shut down, NASA relied on Russian Soyuz flights for years to ferry its astronauts to the orbiting lab. That is, till SpaceX succeeded in getting the Crew Dragon licensed for human spaceflights. Now, the company will once more be securing seats on the Soyuz, whereas Russian cosmonauts might be flying aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon flights.
NASA stated in a press release offered to The New York Times:
“Flying integrated crews ensures there are appropriately trained crew members on board the station for essential maintenance and spacewalks. It also protects against contingencies such as a problem with any crew spacecraft, serious crew medical issues or an emergency aboard the station that requires a crew and the vehicle they are assigned to return to Earth sooner than planned.”
In different phrases, the settlement will make sure that each the US- and the Russian-operated segments of the station won’t ever be unmanned in case of canceled flights or different emergencies. The company additionally stated that the primary built-in flights will happen in September, with Anna Kikina being the primary Russian cosmonaut to fly on a Crew Dragon. She might be joined by NASA’s Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, in addition to Japan’s Koichi Wakata. Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio might be heading to the ISS aboard a Soyuz flight. In the spring of 2023, Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev and NASA’s Loral O’Hara can even be swapping seats. No cash will change palms below the settlement, in contrast to prior to now when NASA paid Roscosmos round $56 million a seat.
The announcement comes similtaneously Dmitry Rogozin’s dismissal as the pinnacle of Roscosmos. Rogozin had made controversial statements and selections for years, however particularly in current months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After the European Space Agency formally backed out of the ExoMars joint mission with Russia, as an example, Rogozin stated he ordered the Roscosmos crew to cease working with the European-made robotic arm on the ISS. Roscosmos, below his management, additionally distributed photos of cosmonauts holding the flags of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. NASA issued a statement afterward, saying it “strongly rebukes using the International Space Station for political purposes to support [the] war against Ukraine.”
The Times stated Kremlin’s spokesperson clarified that Rogozin’s dismissal has nothing to do along with his efficiency. According to Space, Latvia-based information outlet Meduza reported that Rogozin could be assigned as Putin’s chief of workers or as an administrator overseeing the Ukraine territories Russia had occupied, however neither rumor has been confirmed simply but.
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