Russia Says It Will Quit International Space Station

The new date is Jul 26, 2022.

The head of Russia's space agency said Tuesday that the country plans to pull out of the International Space Station.

State-run news agencies reported that Borisov told Putin that the agency would leave the International Space Station after 2024.

The International Space Station has been in space for more than two decades and is a partnership between Russia, NASA and other space agencies.

Borisov said that Russia plans to focus on the development of an orbital station of its own, a project that has been on the fringes for years but has come to the forefront as Russia protests Western sanctions.

The director of NASA's International Space Station program told reporters that she sees Borisov's comments as a look at what Russia's planning for after the space station ceases operations.

The deal between NASA and Russia to allow astronauts from each agency to ride to and from the International Space Station surprised many.

Key Background

After Borisov replaced him, the former head of Russia's space agency threatened to pull the country out of the International Space Station. Leaving the International Space Station seemed like an empty promise due to the history of making threats against the West. Borisov said Tuesday that the decision to leave the International Space Station had been made.

Russia has an anti-West space chief and has a new ride-sharing deal with NASA.

The Russian space ship docks on the international space station despite Russia's threats.