The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) highly appreciates cooperation with Roscosmos, in particular, within the framework of the cross-flight program. About this on Monday, September 26, representatives of the organization.
As the head of the American ISS program Joel Montalbano noted during a press conference, NASA maintained contact with the general director of Roscosmos Yuri Borisov on the eve of the launch of the Crew Dragon spacecraft of the Crew-5 mission, on which Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina went to the ISS.
Roscosmos has provided excellent support during the preparations for this mission, and we expect it to continue,” Montalbano concluded.
According to him, Borisov “made it clear that Roscosmos is committed to fulfilling all of its international obligations.”
“We really appreciate that we maintain a very professional relationship with our Russian colleagues, <...> even despite the difficult geopolitical situation,” added NASA Manned Flight Program Manager Kathy Lueders.
Earlier, on September 21, it was reported that a Soyuz rocket with a Russian-American crew on board, under a new cross-flight agreement, was launched from Baikonur. The launch went smoothly.
Prior to that, on September 18, NASA representatives arrived at Baikonur for the first cross-over Russian-American flight on the Soyuz spacecraft. The delegation was headed by a representative of the department, Kenneth Buaersox.
On September 16, NASA announced that it would maintain cooperation with Roscosmos on the ISS, despite US sanctions.
On August 25, NASA’s ISS program manager Joel Montalbano said that the corporation wants to extend the agreement with Roscosmos on cross-flights to the ISS.
Borisov said in July that Russia was starting the process of withdrawing from the ISS project after 2024. He added that it will take time. Borisov also stressed that international policy should not affect projects on the ISS.
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