The landing would mark the end of a historic mission for NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, whose 355 days in space set a record for the longest single spaceflight for an American. His return, along with his Russian counterparts, would also serve as a powerful symbol of partnership amid heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Ever since Russia’s bloody invasion began, more than a month ago, NASA has steadfastly maintained that the station has been operating normally, and that its relationship of more than 20 years with the Russian space agency has been unaffected by the turmoil on the ground.NASA has said it cannot operate without the Russians, which provide the propulsion that allows the ISS to keep its orbit and maneuver when needed.
, saying Russia could walk away from the partnership and, without its ability to boost the station, even leave it to crash into the ground. Meanwhile, NASA’s top officials have gone to great lengths to appear measured and professional — focused, above all, on keeping the crews alive in space.level and that the mission continues to transcend geopolitics.
Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov on March 29 handed control of the International Space Station to U.S. astronaut Thomas Marshburn. Tensions with Russia are now spilling into space, complicating International Space Station partnership That comity was on display Tuesday, when cosmonaut Shkaplerov handed over command of the station to NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn, saying that while “people have problems on Earth … on orbit we are one crew.” Speaking in English, he called the space station “a symbol of friendship and cooperation and like a symbol of the future of exploration in space.”He thanked “my space brothers and sisters” and praised Marshburn, saying he would be a “professional commander of ISS.
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