The war of aggression against Ukraine continues to leave its mark in space. If the “illegal sanctions” are not lifted, Russia would no longer participate in the cooperation on the International Space Station, the Roskosmos boss said in a letter to NASA and ESA.
The Moscow leadership will soon propose specific deadlines for ending the cooperation, the head of the Russian space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, said via Telegram on Saturday. The letters would then be sent to the space agencies of the US, Canada, Japan and the EU.
NASA for “simplified” solution
A full restoration of normal relations between ISS partners is “possible only with a complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions,” Rogozin said. He also published letters in response to Telegram from, among others, his American colleague Bill Nelson of NASA and the director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher.
Nelson replied that cooperation with Russia on the ISS should continue. That’s why NASA also wants to work with the US authorities on simplified solutions, it said in view of the Russian companies subject to sanctions, including the manufacturer of the space rocket Progress. “Maintaining safe and successful ISS operations remains a priority for the United States.”
Austrians as “postman”
In contrast, the Austrian Aschbacher only acted as a “postman”, according to Rogosin. He only passed on the Roskosmos letter to the EU members. Russia must therefore wait until all EU members have spoken, criticized Rogozin.
Until then, the ISS could “die its own death” — the station is actually planned to remain in orbit at least until 2024. But even before the war, Russia was considering dismantling its modules and possibly using it for a new space station.
The aim is to “kill the Russian economy”
While it is clear that the sanctions will not be lifted, Rogozhin was not very optimistic. Nevertheless, they are claimed not to relate to the ISS, “where Russia’s role is fundamental in ensuring the vital functions and security” of humanity’s outpost. That is unacceptable.
The sanctions were designed to cripple Russia’s high-tech companies. “The purpose of the sanctions is to destroy the Russian economy, to plunge our people into despair and hunger, to bring our country to its knees,” he said. But that won’t work.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
