Elon Musk said SpaceX will rescue the International Space Station (ISS) if Russia follows through on threats to drop it from orbit amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, The Sun reported on Tuesday.
Russian space chief Dimitry Rogozin warned Russian help was needed in order to prevent the ISS from crashing down.
Russian threats spark concern over ISS future
“If you block co-operation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall (sic) into the United States and Europe?” Rogozin tweeted on Friday. His tweet was in reference to US President Joe Biden’s announcement also on Friday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine warranted sanctions.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
Musk responded, arguing that his company SpaceX would intervene in the crisis. Minutes later, when a Twitter user asked the billionaire to confirm that he meant SpaceX would keep the ISS from falling out of the sky, Musk replied: “Yes.”
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
He also replied to a tweet showing the ISS with the SpaceX Dragon attached rather than the Russian segment.
“Good thread,” Musk wrote.
Good thread
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
Russia role in ISS in question after invasion
Russia’s role in the 15-nation partnership, which has kept the ISS orbiting Earth for 23 years, is a major one, but relations are, of course, at an all-time low because of the Ukrainian invasion.
Biden’s announcement on Thursday unveiled new sanctions that would “degrade” Russia’s aerospace industry, with their space program particularly impacted. Rogozin then warned that, since Russian engines control the ISS’ orbit and location, “There is also the possibility of a 500-ton structure falling on India and China.”
Threats signal Russia growing ever more isolated
“Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect?” Rogozin asked. “The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?”
Rogozin’s remarks, in contrast to ones made a few days prior, including one in which he tweeted that Russia “treasures” its relationship with NASA, promising to “make every effort to continue as before,” regardless of “disagreements,” suggest a significant escalation in rhetoric.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also pressed on the issue on Thursday, likely agitating Russia even more.
“I have been broadly in favor of continuing artistic and scientific collaboration, but in the current circumstances it’s hard to see how even those can continue as normal,” Johnson said.
In contrast to the UK’s comments, NASA sought to ease tensions, arguing sanctions will not have an impact on ISS operations.
“NASA continues working with all our international partners, including the State Space Corporation Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations of the International Space Station,” a representative for the agency said. “The new export control measures will continue to allow US-Russia civil space co-operation.
The agency added that it expected “no changes” to the “agency’s support for ongoing in orbit and ground station operations.”
Over the past few years, NASA has been trying to reduce its reliance on Russian rockets to send astronauts to space. It has been contracting with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to build them, which marks a significant change for the US agency.
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