MIAMI — The head of NASA promised this week that he would continue joint space exploration with countries, even though his Twitter-trolling Russian counterpart suggested Moscow could crash into Earth’s International Space Station or leave an American astronaut behind.
According to text obtained by NBC News, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated Monday that he has been meeting nearly daily for the past three weeks to ensure safe operations of the ISS.
Nelson stated, “I want you to know that we are laser-focused on our people,” adding that he “remains dedicated” to the seven astronauts and cosmonauts aboard International Space Station, and that NASA “continues to work with all of our international partners to maintain safe operation of the ISS.”
Nelson’s comments, which acknowledged an unprecedented “strain between the Russian-American governments as a consequence of their attack on Ukraine”, are stark contrast to the bellicose provocations on Twitter by Dimitry Olegich Rogozin (head of Roscosmos).
Since the U.S. placed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle for the invasion of Ukraine in February, Rogozin and his agency suggested that the space station might crash or that Russia might remove its module from it and leave U.S. astronaut Mark Vande Hei. Vande Hei is expected to return to Earth aboard a Russian spaceship. Vande Hei set a new world record of 341 consecutive days in space on Tuesday.
Recent Russian escalations threaten almost 50 years of joint space exploration by former Cold War enemies that have put aside terrestrial differences in order to pursue celestial mission. Some space experts now call on the United States to end the International Space Station partnership that began in 1987 with Russia.
Ann Kapusta, who was part of NASA’s space station and is now executive director of the Space Frontier Foundation (a non-profit advocacy group), stated that NASA is one of a few entities on a very limited list still in public partnership.
She stated, “We cannot ignore the fact that Roscosmos has become part of Putin’s war machine.” NASA must begin to sever ties with them if they haven’t already.
Kapusta stated that Friday will be a crucial test for the relationship, as Russia will send three cosmonauts on a Soyuz rocket to the station. It is expected to return with Vande Hei, two Russian cosmonauts, and March 30.
Vande Hei’s fate was questioned when RIA Novosti, a state-run Russian news agency, posted a on social networks showing the Russian section of the space station disengaging after Vande Hei had left. Roscosmos created the video, which was described as ” funny”.
Officials from the United States weren’t laughing.
Rogozin denied claims Russia threatened to maroon Vande Hei. The Russian news agency TASS explicitly promised Monday Vande Hei would be safe returned. In case this doesn’t happen, the U.S. has back-up plans to rescue him.
Nelson stated that “It is notable that the expected launch by three cosmonauts into the ISS is proceeding Friday,” but he didn’t mention Rogozin.
Nelson’s comments were intended to reassure NASA workers, contractors and not escalate tensions with Russia — as per Biden administration policy. However, those who know Nelson’s thinking tell him that he felt the need for action after Russia posted the video from the space station about Vande Hei.
Senator Marco Rubio, the Republican from Florida, was impressed by Nelson’s response.
Rubio stated in a written statement to NBC News that he was grateful for Bill’s leadership, and his unwavering dedication to the safety of our astronauts including Mark Vande Hei.
Rogozin, despite denying that Russia will abandon Vande Hei’s safety, posted a series of tweets on February 24 suggesting Russia — the country which controls the engines of the space station — may be willing to give up its responsibilities.
“If you stop cooperation with us who will save ISS from an uncontrolled orbit and fall into the United States of Europe?” He also suggested that a 500-ton structure could be dropped to India or China.” According to a Reuters translation, he wrote the following tweets on his official Twitter page. Do you really want to threaten them with this prospect? Russia is not the ISS, so you are responsible for all risks. Are you prepared for them?
Rogozin suggested that President Joe Biden had Alzheimer’s disease because he imposed sanctions on Russia. However, he later wrote that people should ignore his comments. He has also engaged in Twitter battles with billionaire SpaceX founder Elon Musch and Scott Kelly . Scott Kelly is also the twin brother to Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who was also an astronaut. Rogozin tweeted an annotation “Tom and Jerry”, which cast Ukraine as the mouse and Russia the cat , an irony given that the former outwits them in the cartoon.
Russia has cut ties with European space exploration countries and stopped the supply of rocket engines for the U.S. after its invasion of Ukraine. Rogozin previously suggested that the U.S. might need to use a trampolineto reach the space station. This was after the Obama administration sanctioned him along with other Putin allies as a response to Russia’s annexation and occupation of Crimea.
In 2004, Putin appointed Rogozin as Roscosmos’ head, prompting concerns to claim that he would end the apolitical cooperation in space between Russia and the U.S. Nelson supported the 2014 sanctions when Rogozin was a senator. Rogozin complained about Rogozin’s complaints to Nelson.
Rolf Mowatt–Larssen, a former CIA station chief at Moscow, is an expert in counterintelligence and said Nelson’s measured remarks were “exactly right approach.” He added, “We have to be very careful right here not to fearmongering or get hysterical.”
Mowatt-Larssen stated that Rogozin’s actions are “classic Bet-Hedging” by a Russian government member who feels the need for Putin loyalty.
Kapusta from the Space Frontier Foundation stated that regardless of Putin’s approval, the U.S. can’t count upon Russia moving forward, regardless of his opinions.
She stated that “Space has always been apolitical and we have had the hope that it can unify all humanity.” “Space transcends terrestrial aggression and structural tensions. It’s sad and depressing that one man, backed Putin, is trying to destroy that.”
