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Author
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Topic: Russian-U.S. relations and fate of the ISS
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oly
Member Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 03-27-2018 09:07 PM
   
With the news this week regarding the expulsion of Russian envoys following events in the UK — I am not suggesting things are heading this way, but, should political tensions become strained to the point that shared future Russian launches to the ISS come into question... If, hypothetically, all launches to the ISS ceased now, how long could current crew remain on station? How long could the ISS remain in orbit unmanned and unsupported? Will the U.S. return to manned spaceflight happen before the ISS deorbits? Could Russian cosmonauts change the locks so to speak on the ISS? It would be a shame if the ISS followed Skylab in being lost before a return to flight happened. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-27-2018 09:13 PM
The International Space Station was not designed to function without a crew, and neither Russia or the United States can operate it alone.The U.S. relies on the Russian segment for propulsion and, currently, access via the Soyuz. Russia relies on the U.S. segment for power, temperature control, some communications and control. As such, Russia does not benefit from restricting access to the space station. But to answer your question, U.S. commercial crew vehicles will enter service in late 2018 to mid-2019 based on current schedules. | |
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Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a
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