Russia Set To Withdraw From International Space Station After 2024

The Russian portion of the International Space Station which includes six modules accounts for about 17 percent of the total mass of the entire space station

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
July 28, 2022 04:30 am UTC
Modified: July 28, 2022 04:30 am

RUSSIA - (From Russian translation) Yuri Borisov, who is head of the Roskosmos, Russia's state space agency has said that Russia will be withdrawing from the International Space Station (ISS) project after the year 2024.

Russian news Kommersant has reported that Borisov stated that by 2024, the deployment of a Russian national orbital station will have begun.

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, quoted by Interfax Borisov said "You know that we are working within the framework of international cooperation on the International Space Station. Of course, we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave this station after 2024 has been made."

He said that the future of astronautics should be based on a systematic scientific program and that each flight should "enrich the country with knowledge in the field of space." according to Kommersant.

The Russian portion of the International Space Station which includes six modules accounts for about 17 percent of the total mass of the entire space station.

On April 29th, the CEO of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia would give a year's notice before leaving the International Space Station. He had said at the time that the duration of the operation would depend on the situation in and around Russia.

"For the time being, we will not rush to announce our position and will continue to work within the deadline set by the government until 2024. The decision on the fate of the ISS will largely depend on the situation that will develop both in our country and around it," he said in April.

The Kommersant at that time had reported that if sanctions were lifted from the "state corporation" and from Russia, only then could the restoration of cooperation on the International Space Station be possible, but said that the United States and Canada refused to lift the restrictions.

NASA had put out a statement in February saying "NASA will continue to engage with the relevant federal and US agencies to promote further cooperation within the ISS and its operation, including any necessary cooperation on the ISS program with the support of JSC Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering ... and JSC RCC Progress. Maintaining safe and successful ISS operations remains a priority for the United States."

Rogozin had also said in February that "The position of our partners is clear: the sanctions will not be lifted. At the same time, fearing the destruction of cooperation on the ISS, where the role of Russia is of a fundamentally important nature for ensuring the viability and safety of the station, Western partners make it clear that, in reality, sanctions regarding work in the interests of the ISS will not work."