You don’t have to be too smart to realize today’s Russia it is not a country that would be especially valued abroad. Although there is no unanimity in the views of the international community, there is a logical consensus that the aggression against Ukraine has no justification and that it is the executive led by Putin who tried to set up the ghost. World War III, in which it even established the possibility of using its nuclear arsenal.
However, it happens (and we have seen this in many cases in history) that certain activities, some specific they are often left out of the conflictand there are major international challenges that deserve to be addressed on their own. And one of the most obvious and logical cases is undoubtedly the field of science, whose many projects transcend flags, borders and nationalities.
Half of the world is rebelling over Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, it seemed that space cooperation would be left out of the conflict. And it is because we remember that the earth plays an important role in relation to the International Space Station. It is no coincidence that until the arrival of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, scientists and astronauts were transported to the International Space Station by the Russian Soyuz, a great example of international cooperation.
However, and after verifying that the international blockades appear to have struck with greater force than originally intended by Moscow’s calculations, now it seems to be another red line that the Kremlin and Roscosmos have decided to cross. And that’s how we can read thread on Twitter Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency, «restoration of normal relations between partners in ISS and other projects is possible only by complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions«.
In the thread, which is basically complaints from other space agencies do not have the opportunity to interfere in the foreign policy of their statesand a loud cry over how unfair the rest of the world is to Russia (not even that they tried to invade any country after the unilateral declaration of war, go), founding and quoting again «illegal sanctions»Against the ground. The reason that motivated these sanctions? It can be seen that there is no room left in the thread to comment on anything.
Russia’s importance in space racing is undoubtedly crucial. Roscosmos, a pioneer in many ways, has been a reference for many decades. However, an action of this type would undoubtedly help to tarnish its image in an indelible way and would mean before and after, as far as other world agencies are concerned. when considering any type of cooperation with a Russian agency.
The future of the International Space Station is, as we have occasionally commented on, somewhat uncertain, and if Roscosmos finally confirms its threat and Russia withdraws from the project, for a veteran station, the situation could be further complicated, a project of decades of research, work, effort and investment that should be left out of the conflict. However, this is not the first time that Russia has threatened to leave the ISS, so perhaps deep down it is just a childish excuse for something they have actually wanted to do for some time. Which, of course, would be just as embarrassing for Russia.
