A US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts have arrived safely at the International Space Station (ISS) after blasting off on a Russian-operated flight in a rare instance of cooperation between Moscow and Washington.
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, and Nasa both distributed live footage on Wednesday of the launch from Kazakhstan, and commentators speaking over the feed said the crew were “feeling well”.
Nasa’s Frank Rubio and Russia’s Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin made up the crew that launched from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome at 13.54 GMT.
The three will spend six months on the ISS along with three other Russian cosmonauts, three other US astronauts, and one Italian.
Rubio is the first US astronaut to travel to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz rocket since the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, sent troops into Ukraine on 24 February. In response, western capitals including Washington have hit Moscow with unprecedented sanctions and bilateral ties have sunk to new lows.
Space is one of the last remaining areas of cooperation between the US and Russia. Russia’s only female cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, is expected to travel to the orbital station in early October onboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Kikina will become only the fifth professional female cosmonaut from Russia or the Soviet Union to go into space, and the first Russian to fly onboard a SpaceX craft, from the company of billionaire Elon Musk.
Russian cosmonauts and western astronauts have sought to steer clear of the conflict that is raging back on Earth, especially when in orbit together.
A collaboration among the US, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency and Russia, the ISS is split into two sections: the US orbital segment and the Russian orbital segment.
At present, the ISS depends on a Russian propulsion system to maintain its orbit, about 250 miles above sea level, with the US segment responsible for electricity and life support systems.
Tensions in the space field have grown since Washington announced sanctions on Moscow’s aerospace industry – triggering warnings from Russia’s former space chief Dmitry Rogozin, an ardent supporter of the Ukraine war.
Rogozin’s recently appointed successor, Yury Borisov, later confirmed Russia’s long-mooted move to leave the ISS after 2024 in favour of creating its own orbital station. The US space agency, Nasa, called the decision an “unfortunate development” that would hinder scientific work on the ISS.
Space analysts say construction of a new orbital station could take more than a decade, and Russia’s space industry – a point of national pride – would not be able to flourish under heavy sanctions.
The ISS was launched in 1998 at a time of hope for US-Russia cooperation following their space race competition during the cold war.
In that era, the Soviet space programme boomed. It boasted a number of accomplishments that included sending the first man into space in 1961 and launching the first satellite four years earlier.
Experts say Roscosmos has in recent years suffered a series of setbacks, including corruption scandals and the loss of a number of satellites and other spacecraft.
Russia’s years-long monopoly on crewed flights to the ISS is also gone, to SpaceX, along with millions of dollars in revenue.
As a space exploration enthusiast and expert with a deep understanding of the subject, I can attest to the significance of the recent collaborative mission between the United States and Russia to the International Space Station (ISS). My expertise in the field allows me to provide insights into various aspects of this mission, drawing on a wealth of knowledge about space exploration, international cooperation, and the dynamics of the ISS.
Firstly, the successful arrival of a US astronaut, Nasa’s Frank Rubio, alongside two Russian cosmonauts, Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, at the ISS marks a rare instance of cooperation between Moscow and Washington. This collaboration is notable given the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, especially following geopolitical events such as Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.
The launch from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome at 13.54 GMT, as captured in live footage distributed by both the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, and Nasa, signifies the continued joint efforts in space exploration. The fact that the crew was reported to be "feeling well" upon arrival further emphasizes the success of the mission, underscoring the reliability and safety of the Russian-operated flight.
It's noteworthy that Frank Rubio is the first US astronaut to travel to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz rocket since the geopolitical tensions escalated due to Russia's actions in Ukraine. This reflects the unique circ*mstances surrounding space collaboration, where the ISS remains one of the last remaining areas of cooperation between the United States and Russia.
The article also mentions Russia's only female cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, who is expected to travel to the ISS in early October aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. This upcoming mission is particularly significant as Kikina will become the first Russian to fly onboard a SpaceX craft, highlighting the expanding partnerships and technological advancements in the space industry.
The International Space Station itself is a product of collaboration among the US, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency, and Russia. Divided into two segments, the US orbital segment and the Russian orbital segment, the ISS relies on a Russian propulsion system for orbit maintenance, while the US segment is responsible for electricity and life support systems.
Tensions in the space field have grown due to geopolitical events, such as the sanctions imposed by Washington on Moscow's aerospace industry. This has triggered discussions about the future of the ISS, with Russia expressing its intention to leave the ISS after 2024 and create its own orbital station. Such a move is seen as an unfortunate development by Nasa, with potential implications for scientific work on the ISS.
In conclusion, the recent ISS mission exemplifies the intricate dynamics of international collaboration in space exploration, highlighting both achievements and challenges in the evolving landscape of space exploration and cooperation between the United States and Russia.
