NASA says Russian relationship is ‘normal’
Administrator Charlie Bolden says Ukraine conflict ‘shouldn’t affect’ ISS operations
NASA’s administrator has told journalists that everything is cool with their Russian colleagues, in the wake of speculation over what might happen to the astronauts in the International Space Station if the conflict over Ukraine was to escalate.
“Right now, everything is normal in our relationship with the Russians,” said Charles Bolden during a news conference. “I’m not an historian… but over the duration of the human spaceflight program, particularly over the last 15 years since International Space Station has been on orbit, it’s very important to understand that it started with a partnership between the United States and Russia. That partnership in space remains intact and normal. We are continuing to monitor the situation. Our crews continue to train in Star City [Russia].”
While relations between the USA and Russia have been strained following the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, NASA officials say they are confident that operations will be unaffected. Currently, Russia is the only country in the world with the capability to send humans to and from the ISS, following the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011.
“I think people lose track of the fact that we have occupied the International Space Station now for 13 consecutive years uninterrupted, and that has been through multiple international crises,” Bolden said.
“I don’t think it’s an insignificant fact that we’re starting to see a number of people with the idea that the International Space Station be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s not trivial. It has continued to exist and continued to function with people from a variety of cultures and beliefs, but we all are focused on the mission of the International Space Station.”
The Russians have yet to comment.
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