Russia, which suffered a serious embargo from the USA and EU countries after its invasion of Ukraine, was preparing to leave the International Space Station, but apparently this will not happen until 2028.
Russia, which was exposed to many sanctions by western countries after its invasion of Ukraine, stated that this situation was against international law and announced that it would leave the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024. This situation, which put ISS member countries in a lot of tension, was postponed by Russia’s decision.
ISS to Be supported by Russia Until 2028
NASA stated in a blog post it published recently that Russia will support the ISS until 2028. With the announcement of NASA, the need for the International Space Station for Russia will be met for a while. The USA, Japan, Canada and member European countries have stated that they will leave the ISS in operation by 2030. It is too early to talk about the future of the station after this date.
After the United States and other countries imposed sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, former Roscosmos director Dmitry Rogozin had threatened to stop working with his Western colleagues. “I believe that the restoration of normal relations between the International Space Station and partners in other projects will be possible with the complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions,” Rogozin reproached to the west at the time.
US Prepares for Russia’s Separation
Although Roscosmos now agrees to continue cooperation with its partners, it is stated that NASA had to prepare for the possibility of its former partner leaving the space station, as tensions between Russia and the United States escalated before the invasion of Ukraine. NASA and the White House are allegedly preparing plans to pull the astronauts from the station and keep the flying lab in orbit without Russian thrusters if Russia suddenly leaves the program. In this direction, it is among the information that the government is working with Boeing engineers. Whatever the fate of the ISS, NASA and other space agencies are considering withdrawing from Low Orbit and launching missions to the Moon after 2028. Let’s see if the International Space Station will continue to stay in orbit after 2030.
I am glad the Russian are doing their part in maintaining the International Space Station. Who knows, by 2028 the acrimony that has cropped up between certain participants might become a distant memory. We can only hope.