Russia To Leave International Space Station Over Sanctions
As global economic sanctions against Russia continue to apply pressure, Dmitry Rogozin, the chief of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, confirmed reports that the country would be pulling out of the historic, international space effort known as the International Space Station. Rogozin continued to affirm that the decision to leave the ISS was the Russian government’s response to the increasing economic strain that the sanctions have caused for Russia. The action is quite symbolic, as the ISS, for many years, has represented an unprecedented era of global collaboration in which many nations joined forces for the sake of exploration, science, and shared knowledge for all.
On Apr. 30, two Russian media outlets reported on Rogozin’s announcement. Rogozin made public statements regarding the situation. He announced that the U.S. could go to space using its “American broomsticks” instead of the Soyuz series of spacecraft that Russia uses. “I believe that the restoration of normal relations between partners in the International Space Station and other joint projects is possible only with the complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions,” Rogozin said.
Since 1998, the ISS has been a place for teamwork between global scientists from Russia, the U.S., Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency. Work conducted on the station has led to countless scientific breakthroughs and findings, including research on the “fifth state of matter.”
Ryan Lim For The Teen Times
1. Why did Russia opt out of the International Space Station (ISS)?
2. What did the ISS represent for many years?
3. What did the chief of Roscosmos say would restore normal relations among partners in the ISS?
1. What problems would the ISS face as result of Russia's decision?
2. Do you feel that Russia's decision to pull out of the ISS is justified?
3. What do you think about Rogozin's statements regarding the situation?
4. Do you believe that space exploration is necessary for human development? Why?
As global economic sanctions against Russia continue to apply pressure, Dmitry Rogozin, the chief of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, confirmed reports that the country would be pulling out of the historic, international space effort known as the International Space Station. Rogozin continued to affirm that the decision to leave the ISS was the Russian government’s response to the increasing economic strain that the sanctions have caused for Russia. The action is quite symbolic, as the ISS, for many years, has represented an unprecedented era of global collaboration in which many nations joined forces for the sake of exploration, science, and shared knowledge for all.
