WITH INFORMATION FROM: RUSSIA TODAY ( RT.COM)
The Director-general of the Roscosmos State Corporation sent a three weeks ago to NASA commander Jim Bridenstine that the sanctions would endanger joint cooperation between the two nations on the International Space Station (ISS).
US Department of Commerce introduced restrictions on Russian companies that it believes cooperate with the military. This restriction may harm Soyuz rocket launchers. The US was using the same technology to conduct launches. Until this year, the US was reliant on this very same technology to conduct launches.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, the Roscosmos administrator called the sanctions “stupid,” noting that the Central Research Institute of Machine Building – one of the sanctioned companies – includes the ISS mission control center.
“The possible use of sanctions by the United States against these Russian enterprises jeopardizes the further implementation of the International Space Station program,” Rogozin wrote before the measures were confirmed.
The ISS is a multinational collaborative project involving both NASA and Roscosmos, alongside JAXA (Japan), CSA (Canada), and the European Space Agency. Since the first expedition in 2000, all 64 trips have included at least one American and Russian.
