A veteran astronaut says the ISS crew don't dwell on politics, as Russia warns sanctions could 'destroy' its cooperation with the US over the station

Does politics affect astronauts?

There are five people in the International Space Station, four from NASA and two from Russia. Tensions between the West and Russia are high.

The head of the Russian space agency warned that sanctions against Russia could destroy cooperation on the International Space Station.

The US would no longer be supplied with rocket engines from Russia. In a situation like this, we can't supply the United States with our world's best rocket engines. I don't know what to do with them, let them fly on something else.

Russia will stop cooperating with Germany on the International Space Station projects in response to the new sanctions.

In an interview with Insider, the commander of the second private astronauts mission to the International Space Station said crew members are used to leaving politics behind.

When astronauts are in space, there doesn't tend to be a lot of conflict.

I have had a lot of people ask me if there is a problem between the Russians and Americans on the space station.

She said she reminded people that this is an international space station.

When you are in space, you become part of a space culture where my life depends on you and my life depends on me.

There isn't a lot of conflict because we are in it together.

In the future, there will be rifts between astronauts. She said that that is not the philosophy of crew members.

Russia's attack on Ukraine should cause more engine development in the US.

We rely on Russian engines a bit more than we should, according to Whitson.

Other parties, including Musk, have very successful engine systems, but additional types were needed.