Russian space agency Roscosmos has officially announced it will no longer work with global partners to conduct scientific research on the International Space Station (ISS). This decision was taken as Russia's response to sanctions against its invasion of Ukraine.
In a tweet, Roscosmos said it would not cooperate with Germany on joint experiments in the Russian ISS segment. "We now intend to do so independently," they said.
Quoted from IFL Science, the ISS is currently manned by a crew consisting of Russian, American and German personnel. But the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict has created a serious rift between Russia and the West.
Initially, the US space agency NASA hoped to maintain its collaboration with Roscosmos and remained optimistic that operations on the space station could continue as normal. However, the escalation of hostilities has put the entire space research project on the ISS and its future in doubt.
Under this agreement, the ISS is allowed to remain operational until 2024, although NASA recently announced its intention to extend the project to 2030. However, the continuation of the ISS will certainly require the support of all parties, and Russia's exit from this collaboration may derail such plans.
"Roscosmos has permission from the government to operate the ISS only until 2024. And the issue of extending the agreement under current conditions makes us skeptical. Russia's space program will be adjusted against the backdrop of sanctions, the priority is the manufacture of satellites for defense purposes," Roscosmos said some time ago. .
Russia's role is very crucial on the ISS, including controlling key laboratories, sending supplies from Earth, and even adjusting the altitude of the station to prevent it from hurtling to Earth.
Other US partners that co-operate with the ISS such as Japan, Europe and Canada could keep the ISS afloat without Russia. However, it may not be worth the effort and cost.
Russia also decided to stop supplying rocket engines to the US. This was officially announced by Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
"In a situation like this we can't supply the US with our best rocket engines. Let them fly with something else, a broomstick maybe, I don't know," Rogozin said sarcastically.
According to Rogozin, Russia has delivered a total of 122 RD-180 engines to the US since the 1990s. A total of 98 of them have been used to power the Atlas launch vehicle.
Roscosmos will also discontinue servicing of rocket engines previously delivered to the US. Until now, the US still has 24 machines and Russia intends to leave it because it no longer wants to provide technical assistance to the US.