Russia's Space Agency Is Considering Extending ISS Participation Past 2024: Official

An extension of Russia's involvement in the International Space Station past 2024 is being discussed with Moscow, according to a Roscosmos official on Monday.

The director of Russia's human space flight programmes, Sergei Krikalev, told reporters that Roscosmos had begun "discussing with our government extending our participation in ISS programme and hope to obtain permission to continue next year."

Roscosmos chief Yuri Borissov had stated during the summer that Russia would quit the ISS "after 2024," as relations between Russia and the West were deteriorating due to the conflict in Ukraine ", as well as attempting to construct its own space station.

He hasn't given that plan a specific date yet.

The construction of a new station would take time, according to Krikalev, so "likely we will keep flying till we have any new infrastructure."

His comments were made during a NASA press conference before the launch of a SpaceX rocket on Wednesday, which will transport a Russian cosmonaut, two American astronauts, and a Japanese astronaut to the International Space Station.

Although U.S. officials have already declared they intend to continue until 2030, the five ISS partner nations of the United States, Russia, Europe, Canada, and Japan have only agreed to manage the orbiting laboratory until 2024.

One of the few areas of cooperation that has endured the intense hostilities between the United States and Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February is the space industry.

(source : AFP)