The renowned commitment of Russia towards helping NASA in the International Space Station ventures gets cut short, as stated by its federal space agency earlier today. Now, Roscosmos has renewed its claims regarding the help it will contribute to the United States' space programs to last until 2025 only, and this takes away three years from its previous statement.
It is known that Russia and the US have a long history of a strained relationship, but the recent conflict and sanctions it faced effectively ended the ties, until it decided to give it a timeline.
Russia's ISS Commitment is Cut Short, Until 2025 Only
Reuters reported that Russia's Roscosmos announced that its cross-flight program with NASA, bound for the International Space Station, will only last through 2025. This is now the latest development in the massive international space ventures that involve multiple countries that have stakes in the ISS.
The deal to assist NASA in the ISS programs fell short of three years, as according to Engadget, Russia has committed itself to fulfilling this with US authorities until 2028.
While there are already preparations regarding Roscosmos' departure from the ISS, NASA is still looking for ways to figure out how to control the space station when Russia leaves.
Russia and NASA's Cross-Flight for the ISS
The Russia and NASA cross-flight is a massive international space program that offers seats on one specific spacecraft, for astronauts and cosmonauts from different countries. The ISS always had one Russian cosmonaut and one US astronaut in each of the country's sections, as regarded by NASA and Roscosmos.
Russia's earlier departure from the ISS will be a significant matter for those who have stakes in the space station, especially as NASA aims to extend its use until 2030.
Russia's Space Program with NASA
For many years, Russia has been in partnership with NASA in space ventures, with the neutral grounds of the ISS centering on an equal footing for both countries. However, when the Russia and Ukraine conflict took place, the US placed sanctions on the country, and this led to a furious announcement of Russia and Roscosmos relinquishing their participation in the space program.
Months later, Russia announced yet again that it is taking back its word, but has given a timeline where it will end its partnership with NASA and the US for all space programs, first claiming the year to be by 2028.
Later in 2022, there were claims regarding the internal information about Russia contemplating if they will continue to participate in the ISS after 2024.
The strained relationship between Russia and the United States has taken its toll on the international space programs and partnerships, with the transcontinental country now cutting their commitment short. Russia and Roscosmos will no longer help and assist NASA with the cross-flight ventures after 2025, three years shorter than their original claims last year.
Related Article : NASA Astronaut Breaks Record of Longest Stay in Space, Spending More than a Year in the ISS
