Russia controls six modules aboard the International Space Station.

Russia controls six modules aboard the International Space Station. (Image credit: STS-122 Shuttle Crew, NASA via flickr, CC BY-NC-SA)

The article was used in Space.com's expert voices: op-ed and insights.

The US Air Force's School of Advanced Air and Space Studies has a professor named Wendy.

The International Space Station will be withdrawn from by Russia after 2024. The statement from the head of Russia's space agency led to the publication of this article. Russia seems to have changed its position since then. According to a video posted by the Russian space agency and statements from a NASA official, Russia will continue to operate the International Space Station with its current partners until its own space station is completed. The station is expected to be up and running in the year 2028.

According to an announcement from the new head of the Russian space agency, the International Space Station will be withdrawn from Russia after 2024. A new Russian space station will be the focus of future efforts.

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...

The station's life has been extended by the U.S. and its partners. Russia's announcement does not constitute 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 Zvezda module, at the far bottom left in this photo, is one of six Russian segments of the ISS and houses the engines used to keep the station in orbit.

The Zvezda module, at the far bottom left in this photo, is one of six Russian segments of the ISS and houses the engines used to keep the station in orbit. (Image credit: NASA)

What would this withdrawal look like?

The main engine system is housed in Zvezda, which is one of the six modules that Russia operates. This engine is vital to the station's ability to stay in the air and to how it moves out of the way of dangerous space 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's unclear if the station would be able to operate without the Russian modules. It is not clear if it would be 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.

A continuation of political tensions

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 leaving. It is more of a political action like a number of minor incidents that have happened in the past.

NASA accused Russia of staging an anti-Ukrainian propaganda photo on the ISS after Russia’s space agency posted this photo of three cosmonauts holding a flag of the Luhansk People's Republic.

NASA accused Russia of staging an anti-Ukrainian propaganda photo on the ISS after Russia's space agency posted this photo of three cosmonauts holding a flag of the Luhansk People's Republic. (Image credit: Roscosmos via Telegram)

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 faking 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 of Russia's withdrawal will be on scientific experiments.

Why now?

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.

Under a Creative Commons license, this article is re-posted. The article is open in a new tab.

Become a part of the discussion on Expert Voices issues and debates by following them on social media. The author's views do not represent those of the publisher.