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Date of NASA chief’s visit to Russia to depend on schedule of flights to ISS

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said he had discussed this matter with the NASA chief who "demonstrated maximum flexibility"

KHIMKI /Moscow region/, January 18. /TASS/. The date of a Russian visit by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will depend on the schedule of flights to the International Space Station (ISS) that is to be agreed in a couple of weeks, chief of Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday.

"I think it [Bridenstine’s visit to Russia] will largely depend on the updated schedule of flights to the ISS. The draft schedule is ready now and I think we will agree it with NASA in seven to ten days," he said.

Rogozin said he had discussed this matter with the NASA chief who "demonstrated maximum flexibility." "They are ready to meet Energia RSC, which is responsible for drafting such schedules, halfway. Bridenstine will attend one of these launches," he added.

Roscosmos said earlier it had an official letter signed by the NASA chief revoking the invitation for Rogozin to visit the United States. The visit was originally planned for February 2019. Bridenstine told the Washington Post earlier that he had "rescinded an invitation" to the Roscosmos chief to visit the United States due to the position of US senators.

Rogozin said in an interview with RBC media holding that he is ready to receive NASA Administrator Bridenstine during his regular trip to Russia, despite the cancellation of Rogozin’s visit to the United States.

According to Rogozin, the heads of the two space agencies needed to discuss further interaction. NASA press secretary Megan Powers later told TASS that Bridenstine did not plan to make trips abroad, including to Russia, in the imminent future.