NASA and Russia’s space agency Roscosmos have agreed on flights to the International Space Station (ISS). The US had imposed economic sanctions on Russia for its war with Ukraine, but the two sides found a middle ground in reaching the ISS.
First, the flight will be in September
As part of the agreement, American astronauts will be able to board Russia’s Soyuz, while Russian cosmonauts will be able to go to the ISS with US-made spacecraft.
In the statement made by Roscosmos, it was stated that the new agreement will facilitate ‘space exploration for peaceful purposes’: “The agreement is in the interest of Russia and the USA and will support the development of cooperation within the framework of the ISS program.” statements were included.
Under the new agreement, NASA said the first flight will take place in September. On the flight, US astronaut Frank Rubio will go to the ISS with two cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin. The launch will be from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, leased by Moscow.
In return, cosmonaut Anna Kikina will travel to the ISS from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with two US astronauts and a Japanese astronaut.
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