2023-12-28 08:44:00
“In order to maintain the reliability of the operation of the ISS in general” and to guarantee the presence of at least one representative of Roscosmos and NASA on their respective segments of the station, “an agreement was reached with the American partners in 2023 to extend crossover flights until 2025,” she said in a press release.
Two addenda to the agreement between Russia and NASA on flights to the ISS were signed for these purposes in July and December 2023, according to the same source.
Russia announced in July 2022 its intention to withdraw “following 2024” from the ISS, where its cosmonauts are permanently located and in which it plays a key role. The creation of a new Russian orbital station is therefore presented as the priority by Roscosmos.
In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the first segment of this new Russian space station should be put into orbit in 2027, promising to continue the conquest of space despite recent setbacks.
The Russian space sector, which has historically been the pride of the country, has suffered for years from financing problems, corruption scandals and failures such as the loss in August of the Luna-25 lunar probe.
A model of international cooperation bringing together Europe, Japan, the United States and Russia, the ISS began to be assembled in 1998. Its retirement was planned for 2024, but NASA estimates that it might operate until 2030.
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