Reuters reported that the United States is developing a plan for Russia’s accidental departure from the ISS.
NASA and Bely late last year began developing a contingency plan for the eventual use of the home for the International Space Station (ISS). About this, referring to anonymous sources, writes Reuters.
The plan, outlined by US officials, includes astronauts meeting with the ISS in the event that Russia decides to pull out of the project, sources told Reuters. The plan also touches on the potential maintenance of the ISS without its main equipment, the oil and gas Roscosmos, and the possibility of using the orbital position several years earlier than expected, the sources disclosed.
NASA and White have previously acknowledged the importance of contingency plans but have not discussed their details publicly, Reuters. Due to the fact that the latest development arose due to the sharp severity of US relations with Russia. Unknown until then, in November, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it shot down an inactive Soviet satellite during anti-satellite weapons testing. The US Space Command then accused Russia of irresponsibility and neglect of security issues due to scattered satellite debris.
In addition, in recent weeks, NASA has prepared a formal request for individual space companies to increase the ISS deorbit path earlier than planned, if Russia decides from the project, Reuters sources. As an air agency, Roskosmos is currently responsible for maintaining the ISS orbit and performing maneuvers.
One of NASA’s invited contractors, Boeing, was involved in the development of the plan, in particular, and assigned a group of engineers to manage machine tools without Russian engines, one of the sources told Reuters. Northrop Grumman and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are working on this, the agency sources upload.
The US expects an active international space station until 2030 and is pursuing international specialization. Roskosmos and other partners, including Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency, are participating in the talks, Reuters writes.
NASA, at the request of the agency, has not confirmed that it has a specific contingency plan. However, the agency said it is constantly looking for new opportunities for the ISS and is planning a smooth transition to a commercial alternative to a station in right Earth orbit. The Roskosmos agency failed to get comments.
In January, the new head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, announced that Russia would withdraw from the ISS project after 2024. By definition, after this period, the station can be raised its technical problem, the cost of its maintenance will be “enormous”. Borisov also added that it would be “economically balanced” for Russia to build its own space station.