Russia announces departure from ISS in protest against US and European sanctions

In response to sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union since it invaded Ukraine, Russia announced that it was abandoning the International Space Station (ISS). The information was revealed by the director of the Russian space agency (Roscosmos), Dmitry Rogozin, in an interview with two Russian state news agencies, TASS and RIA Novosti.

“The decision is already made. I can only say this – in accordance with our obligations, we will inform our partners regarding the end of our work on the ISS a year in advance,” said the director of Roscosmos, who considers the sanctions illegal.

The decision was expected

The announcement came as no surprise, given that in early April Rogozin had already signaled that the country might abandon the ISS due to US and EU sanctions.

The four astronauts of SpaceX’s Crew-4 mission for NASA receive warm hugs from their Crew-3 mission colleagues as they enter the International Space Station: they’re newcomers to the ISS. Image: NASA Television

Despite the war once morest Ukraine and all the geopolitical tensions, the astronauts maintained an atmosphere of cooperation. On the International Space Station are American, Russian and European cosmonauts. In total, 11 people, including three Russians, still do not know when they will descend to Earth.

goodbye space

The ISS is due for retirement in 2030, and NASA has already planned to launch it into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031, landing at a point farther off the planet’s coast, known as the gear graveyard. spatial.

This is the same place where the Russian space station Mir crashed in 2001. There, many satellites and other space debris also plunged into the sea. After this date, space exploration activities should be directed by the commercial sector, such as SpaceX.

The departure of Russia harms ongoing projects

During a question-and-answer session on its official website, the American space agency (NASA) answered questions regarding what would happen if Russia decided to leave the International Space Station (ISS). Spoiler: It wouldn’t be nice, but not in the way you might think. Read more in the special article produced by Digital appearance.

Via : AlerteScience

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