According to an announcement from Yuri Borisov, the new head of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, in a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Russia intends to withdraw from the International Space Station. Borisov said there will be a new Russian space station.
The U.S. and its partners are trying to prolong the station's life. Russia's announcement is not a threat to the station's daily operation but it is the culmination of months of political tension.
Despite being adversaries, Russia and the US can work together at the station. The countries relationship has deteriorated in the last few years. It's not clear if the Russians will follow through with this announcement, but it adds stress to the operation of the most successful international cooperation in space ever. The question now is whether the political relationship has gotten so bad that it's impossible to work together in space.
The main engine system is housed in Zvezda, which is one of the six modules that Russia operates. The station's ability to remain in the air is dependent on how it moves out of the way of debris. Russia retains control over its modules under the agreements.
It is not clear how Russia's departure will play out. Russia's announcement only talks about after 2020. Russia did not say if it would allow the partners of the International Space Station to take control of the Russian modules or if they would have to shut them down.
It is unclear if the station would be able to operate without the Russian modules. It is not clear if it is possible to separate the Russian modules from the rest of the station.
Depending on how and when Russia pulls out of the station, partner countries will have to decide whether to keep the station in the sky or de-orbit it.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, there have been a number of events surrounding the International Space Station. The daily function of the International Space Station should not be affected by Russia's departure. It is more of a political action like a number of minor incidents that have happened in the past.
In March, three Russian cosmonauts emerged from their capsule wearing yellow and blue flight suits similar to the Ukrainian flag. Russian officials didn't talk about the coincidence. NASA criticized Russia for having a propaganda photo. Three Russians pose with flags associated with regions in eastern Ukraine that have been occupied by the Russians.
The operation of the station has not been disrupted. The astronauts on the station carry out many experiments and spacewalks. Russian participation in joint experiments with European nations aboard the International Space Station ended as a result of the increasing tensions.
It seems likely that the biggest effects will be on scientific experiments, with little information available about how Russia's withdrawal will affect the use of its modules.
Russia made an announcement now.
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there has been a lot of tension around the International Space Station. The head of Roscosmos at the time suggested that Russia may leave the International Space Station. NASA and Roscosmos decided to swap seats on the International Space Station because of the recent firing of one of the astronauts. An American would launch to the station on a future Soyuz mission while a Russian would do the same on a future SpaceX Dragon mission. Two moves together suggested that the two sides could still work together in space. It looks like those impressions were not accurate.
The U.S. is considering the future beyond the International Space Station. A commercial space station is being developed by NASA as a replacement for the space lab. Even though it would be difficult to accelerate the development of this new space station, it does signal that the International Space Station is nearing the end of its productive and inspiring life.
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