In a joint effort to ensure the ongoing functionality of the International Space Station (ISS), Russia and the United States have agreed to maintain their collaboration in delivering crews to the ISS until at least 2025.
This decision, announced by Russian space agency Roscosmos on Thursday, underscores a rare area of cooperation amidst political tensions arising from Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. The agreement emphasizes the continuation of cross-flights, involving crews from different nationalities on a single spacecraft, with the goal of preserving the reliability of the ISS as a whole.
The commitment also includes ensuring the presence of at least one representative from Roscosmos on the Russian segment and one representative from NASA on the American segment.
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While ISS partners are currently committed to operating the space station until 2024, the extension reflects a shared interest in maintaining the collaborative space venture beyond previous timelines.
The ISS, launched in 1998 during a period of increased US-Russia cooperation post the Cold War “Space Race,” continues to serve as a symbol of international scientific collaboration.
“An agreement was reached to continue cross-flights until 2025 inclusive,” Roscosmos said in a press release.
The decision was taken “to maintain the reliability of the ISS as a whole,” it added.
It also aims “to guarantee the presence of at least one representative of Roscosmos on the Russian segment and the presence of at least one representative of NASA on the American segment.”
The ISS was launched in 1998 at a time of increased US-Russia cooperation following the Cold War “Space Race.”
