Russia’s decision to drop out of International Space Station catches Nasa off guard. What now?
- Russia’s new space chief announced his country plans to withdraw from the International Space Station ‘after 2024’
- Moscow’s departure throws into question the future of the 24-year-old space station, with experts saying it would be difficult to keep running
03:00
Russia will pull out of International Space Station by 2024 to focus on its own orbiting outpost
The International Space Station has been buzzing with US astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in recent days. But that scene may already belong to a waning era of cooperation, after the top Russian space official said his country is pulling out of the programme.
Tension over the war in Ukraine has cast a pall over the orbiting symbol of US-Russian diplomacy, leading to threats earlier this year by Moscow to end its participation.
“Of course, we will fulfil all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to withdraw from this station after 2024 has been made,” Borisov said.
The announcement appeared to have caught Nasa by surprise, even though Borisov’s predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, had repeatedly questioned Russia’s continued cooperation with the Americans.
“Nasa has not been made aware of decisions from any of the partners,” Nasa chief Bill Nelson said, stressing that the US space agency nonetheless remained “committed to the safe operation of the International Space Station through 2030”.