Russia Is Leaving The International Space Station, in a Dramatic End of an Era

Analysts warned that a halt of Russian-crewed flights could be in the offing after Moscow said it was leaving the space station.

The confirmation of the long-mooted move comes as ties between the Kremlin and the West have deteriorated due to Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine.

Russia's departure from the International Space Station would affect the country's space sector and deal a blow to its program of crewed flights.

"Of course, we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave this station after 2024 has been made," Yury Borisov, the new head of Russian space agency, told President Putin.

The main priority of the domestic space program will be put together by this time, according to Borisov.

Putin said it was good.

NASA says the International Space Station can remain operational until at least 2030.

The space station was launched in 1998 at a time of hope for cooperation between the US and Russia.

The US was surprised by the announcement.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the State Department, said it was an unfortunate development given the critical scientific work performed at the International Space Station.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson told Agence France-Presse that the agency hasn't been made aware of any decisions from any of the partners.

Space exploration has been one of the few areas where cooperation between Russia and the United States and its allies has not been damaged by tensions overUkraine.

'Like an old woman's flat'

The effects of Western sanctions are expected to wreak havoc on the country's economy in the long term because Russia is heavily reliant on imports.

Vadim Lukashevich said that space science can't thrive in a country that is very strict.

If the International Space Station ceases to exist in 2024, we will not be able to fly. The birthplace of cosmonautics is at stake.

Lukashevich said the authorities could not plan more than a few months in advance because of Russia's growing isolation.

He said it would be like an old woman's flat with a telephone and a record player.

It was next to impossible to build a new station from scratch in a few years, according to a space analyst.

There won't be a Russian orbital station in the year of 2020.

It would take at least a decade of the most generous funding to create a space station, he said.

Moscow's program of manned flights may have to be put on hold for a long time because of Russia's departure from the International Space Station.

Baikonur, Russia's main spaceport, could be abandoned if the move goes through.

Until 2020, the only way to get to the International Space Station was with Russian rockets.

'Difficult to restore'

The first man in space was sent into space by the Soviet space program in 1961. In Russia, these feats are a source of pride.

In the past few years, there have been a number of setbacks for the company, including corruption scandals and the loss of a number of satellites.

Borisov was appointed in July and replaced a firebrand politician.

Without Moscow's help, the International Space Station could fall on US or European territory.

The chief designer at the manufacturer of spaceships said Russia should not rush to leave the International Space Station.

It will be difficult to restore what has been achieved if we stop manned flights for a long time.

Agence France- Presse.