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Russia may decide on prolongation of ISS project participation in 2023 — Roscosmos

Roscosmos Executive Director Sergey Krikalev underscored that Roscosmos cooperates with NASA very closely, noting that the Russian space agency is aware that a suspension of spaceflight would seriously negatively affect the ISS program

NEW YORK, October 4. /TASS/. The decision on prolongation of Russia’s participation in the International Space Station (ISS) project past 2024 may be made next year, Roscosmos Executive Director Sergey Krikalev said during the press conference, dedicated to the upcoming launch of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will carry Anna Kikina, the first cosmonaut to fly under the cross flight agreement between NASA and Roscosmos

Answering a reporter’s question, Krikalev noted that NASA and Roscosmos spacemen will continue to fly together until 2024. He pointed out that NASA has already made a decision to prolong its participation in the ISS project, while other international partners either carry out discussions or are ready to make such decision. Meanwhile, Roscosmos has recently commenced discussion of this issue with the Russian government, the Executive Director said, expressing his hope that the government will authorize such prolongation.

Krikalev underscored that Roscosmos cooperates with NASA very closely, noting that the Russian space agency is aware that a suspension of spaceflight would seriously negatively affect the ISS program.

The official pointed out that, while Russia does consider development and construction of its own orbital station, it is clear that his will not happen fast, which suggest that joint spaceflight will continue at least until Russia obtains space infrastructure that will be able to maintain human presence in low orbit, at minimum.