During a special briefing for journalists, the head of NASA, Bill Nelson, assured that the professional relationship between Roscosmos and the US space agency on the ISS will continue without changes. Two Russian cosmonauts and one American cosmonaut will return to Earth later this month as planned. All US and Russian staff remain in place both at the space station and at mission control centers in Houston and Moscow.

Bill Nelson Head of NASA

“The professional relationship between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the [International Space] Station, as well as the professional relationship between mission control centers in Houston and Moscow, has remained unchanged. And this is what we expect, ”quoted by TASS.

On February 24, US President Joe Biden announced the introduction of export control measures against Russia aimed at weakening the defense, aerospace and shipbuilding industries. The next day, a NASA spokesman said that the agency did not stop cooperation with Russia on the ISS, even in the face of anti-Russian sanctions. No changes are planned in NASA support for ongoing operations in orbit and ground stations. On February 28, the American space agency confirmed its position, announcing the continuation of cooperation with Roscosmos.

In mid-March, a rumor appeared in foreign media that Russia refused to return astronaut Mark Vande Hay from the ISS. But the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, assured that on March 30 the astronaut would arrive on Earth along with cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov. Relations with the American side on the ISS remain unchanged.

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