In Washington Following the successful launch of a Crew Dragon spacecraft with a Russian cosmonaut aboard, a Roscosmos official adopted a more amicable stance toward NASA.
He mentioned a “new chapter of collaboration” with the exchange of seats between NASA and Roscosmos. “We merely continue what we started many years ago in 1975 when the Apollo-Soyuz crew worked together, and now we continue our cooperation,” he added.
As he reviewed the station’s technical capabilities to fly and spoke with his Russian specialists, Krikalev stated during the briefing, “We already spoke with our foreign partners and we recognise that it makes sense to keep flying. “We’re going to keep it in the future and see how long the station can fly, and I suppose the biggest technological constraint is that.”
He continued, noting that work is still in its early stages, that Russia is actively researching designs for its own space station. Until that station is finished, he continued, “there is no definitive choice but we are going to keep flying International Space Station.” We don’t yet know how it will be constructed.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reiterated a “professional partnership” between NASA and Roscosmos aboard the International Space Station during the International Astronautical Congress in Paris last month, but Russian representatives were conspicuously absent. He mentioned speaking with Borisov over the phone during a press conference, but he didn’t elaborate. It’s unknown when the two would really meet in person, but he said, “I told him that I look forward to seeing him at the first opportunity.”
When asked if recent remarks made by Borisov and by himself were part of an intentional effort to mend relations with NASA that Rogozin had harmed, “Yes,” Krikalev replied with a smile. He made no further remarks.
