The run of the Russian space agency was turbulent and things got worse recently with the Russian invasion of Ukranian. He spoke out in support of the war and expressed his displeasure with the international sanctions against Russia. The partnership with NASA and the European Space Agency was at risk because of the constant threat by Rogozin to leave the space station. Russian state media posted a fake video of Russian cosmonauts packing up their belongings and leaving the International Space Station for good.
The European robotic arm attached to the Russian segment of the space station was stopped by the Russian space station commander. The mission to Mars was sabotaged by the space agency after they ended their cooperation with the Russian government. The photos on the Telegram channel of three cosmonauts holding up the flags of Russian-backed regions in Ukraine were posted to promote nationalism.
NASA issued a rare statement condemning the use of the International Space Station to display flags, but the space agency kept things diplomatic with Russia in an effort to maintain the partnership. NASA was the target of defamation attempts before the Russian war began. An air leak on the International Space Station was caused by an accusation made by an unnamed official of the Russian government.
Tensions have peaked in the last couple of weeks. The international sanctions against Russia will have an impact on the space program of the U.S. The sanctions seemed to have sent Rogozin into a downward spiral, doubling down on his support of the Russians. "We really value our professional relationship with NASA, but as a Russian and citizen of Russia, I am completely unhappy with the sometimes openly hostile U.S. policy toward my country."
An effort to maintain a peaceful relationship with its international counterparts, at least in space, may have been one of the reasons for Rogozin's dismissal fromRoscosmos. Maybe it isn't. It will only be time that tells.
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