NASA and space partnerships with Russia face Ukraine challenge
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Sergey Ryzhikov (ISS Expedition 64) is a Russian cosmonaut who took part in a training session held at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Center, Zvyozdny Gorodok [Star City]Moscow Region.
Anton Novoderezhkin | TASS | Getty Images
Over the past two decades, Russia and the United States have worked together through the International Space Station. However, Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine may end their longstanding partnership.
CNBC spoke with Jeff Manber of Voyager Space, who said the ISS program had lived a happy life and has “overcame many technical and political obstacles” but that “now we face our greatest challenge.”
Manber’s extensive knowledge of the space deals between these countries dates back to when he was the U.S. counterpart to Russian manufacturer Energia. Manber does not believe the partnership is immediately in jeopardy, but Russian space agency Roscosmos has yet to renew its role beyond 2024 – even as the U.S. prepares to extend ISS operations to 2030.
Manber stated, “The challenge to renewal beyond 2024 is never greater.”
NASA released a statement saying that they “continue to work with all international partners including State Space Corporation Roscosmos” for safe operations at the International Space Station. Currently there are seven people on board the ISS: Five astronauts – four American and one German – and two Russian cosmonauts.
President Joe Biden announced wide-reaching economic sanctions against RussiaOn Thursday afternoon, Biden specifically mentioned that penalties would “degrade their aeronautical industry, including their space program”. Biden didn’t mention the ISS Partnership in his speech. NASA stated that NASA’s new export controls will allow U.S. and Russian civil space cooperation.
NASA declared that “no changes” are being made to NASA’s support for ground and orbit operations.
Partnerships
On March 25, 2020, 36 OneWeb satellites were launched by a Soyuz 2 rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
Roscosmos
There are two main sections to the ISS. The Russian Orbital Segment is the US Orbital Segment. The U.S. and Russia keep the research laboratory continuously staffed with astronauts and cosmonauts, with the roles of each nation’s segment mutually dependent on the other – in ways ranging from life support systems to thrusters that keep the ISS in orbit.
Manber simply explained the situation, saying that it would pose a technical problem to maintain the International Space Station in the absence of Russian support. He noted, however that Russia is unlikely to keep the ISS functional without Russia. This would likely cost in the tens of millions of dollars.
The future of the ISS, with or without Russia, depends on Congress for approval – a fact Manber emphasized. The ISS was supported by key members of Congress for many years. Prior to Russia’s invasion, most in the space industry believed it would operate up to 2030.
Manber stressed that Congressional scrutiny may be necessary due to Dmitry Rogozin’s comments about the Russian space agency. Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency, responded to the announcement by President Biden of the imposition of sanctions in a series tweets. He asked whether Russia would still cooperate with the ISS at the start of 2023. Rogozin also stated that the U.S. sanctions could have “monstrous” consequences such as de-orbiting.
“Dmitry is a colorful guy … he’s a very loyal politician to Putin and to his country,” Manber said, adding that “if he continues to put out on Twitter political comments toward this current situation, it might elevate the space agencies into the political arena. Congress may look at all this and ask, “Why are we even working with this agency?”
One representative who has been uninvolved in the ISS debate is Dan Crenshaw, a Texas congressman. He tweeted that the time had come to “replace the Russians at the International Space Station.”
Manber also stated that European partners were “the most important supporters” of Russia’s cooperation in the area of space.
Manber stated, “But if they’re shivering in the winter 2024 with the French, the Germans, and other Europeans,”.
Commerce
Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket takes off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia on August 10, 2021 with a Cygnus spacecraft and cargo to the International Space Station.
Terry Zaperach / NASA Wallops
Russia and Ukraine both play significant roles in space commerce, buying and selling all things from rockets and spacecraft components.
Manber stated that “all major Russian manufacturers rely on Western electronic parts for their launch vehicles and any other component of their contribution to ISS,” It is possible to do this without electronic components from Western countries. [the Biden administration]You shouldn’t give it too much thought. [these sanctions]Russia may be forced from the ISS programme.”
U.S. companies also manufacture in Ukraine – with Northrop Grumman’sAntares rocket is an example of such a design. It is constructed and assembled in Ukraine. The rocket’s first stage is powered by Russian-built RD-181 engine. CNBC reached out to Northrop Grumman but they did not reply. The company had previously informed shareholders about the risks of possible disruptions in Antares’ supply chains.
Manber indicated that space transport company is one of the many foreign investors and entrepreneurs who have been contributing to America’s growing industry. MomentusFirefly Aerospace, a launch company for Russian aerospace companies were two of the examples brought up by the Inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Momentus was the Russian founder Mikhail Kokorich had to sell all of his shares in the company. Firefly’s main backer – Ukrainian investor Max Polyakov – said earlier this month that he was pushed out by CFIUS, with U.S. private equity firm AE Industrial Partners expected to acquire “a significant stake” from Polyakov’s Noosphere Ventures.
Manber stated that “With Momentus, Firefly and other space agencies, the United States took very firm action to ensure who they consider undesirables aren’t involved” The American agencies will be more concerned about who’s in commercial space today than ever before because of this crisis.
SpaceX and Soyuz offer crew transportation
Russian cargo Progress 77 spacecraft approaches International Space Station (as seen from the window of SpaceX Crew Dragon).
NASA
After the Space Shuttle’s retirement, nine years of reliance on Russia by the U.S. to carry astronauts to orbit were spent. This dependence drastically changed when 2020 was announced. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft delivered a pair of NASA astronautsThe agency’s Commercial Crew program began regular flights by the company to the ISS.
Manber declared, “Commercial Crew are priceless.” Imagine if you could rely on Russia to transport our astronauts or cargo today as much as Russia did in the past.
Terry Virts, a retired NASA astronaut was among those who flew aboard Russia’s Soyuz satellitecraft in the US during the ISS access gap. Virts, who tweeted a photo of Russia bombarding Ukraine in 2015, which he had taken from the space station during the period following the 2014 annexation, recalled his experiences in an interview with CNBC.
“Bombs at nighttime look red from space, I can tell you that – and you could see them flashing,” Virts said.
Virts declared that “it’s a terrible day” that Russia launched an invasion in Ukraine. “It was my favourite part of my space time and my favourite part of this whole mission to hang out with Russian cosmonauts,” Virts said.
“I am afraid we are approaching a red line which needs to be addressed openly. Virts said that if you speak out the actions of Putin, it is time to talk about that red line.
Roscosmos is yet to fly a Cosmonaut on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, but both agencies are working towards an agreement which would allow Anna Kikina from Russia to fly on the Crew-5 mission during the second half this year. In what effectively amounts to a swap, NASA will send an astronaut on its next Soyuz mission. Manber indicated that NASA wants this to go forward even though it is another aspect of the partnership in danger.
“The question will be Congress – and how much heat is Congress going to put on NASA,” Manber said.
In 2024, there won’t even be a private space station
Concept art of the “Starlab” space station
Nanoracks
Manber explained that NASA, the space industry and NASA are facing the possibility of a “very real gap” in their space stations.
This was late last year. NASA awarded over $400 million in contracts under the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) projectFor the development of three private satellite stations in early stages. Manber, a shareholder in Voyager Space and majority shareholder in X.O., is notable. Markets, the parent company of Nanoracks – one of the three contract winners and developing a space station called Starlab.
However, these stations will be ready for operation in 2027. This is likely to happen years after the ISS goes out of orbit if Russia doesn’t continue its partnership. Manber stated that “the overwhelming majority of funding” will be provided by the private sector for private space stations. However, it is critical that Congress and the White House support the CLD project.
“We must increase the funding for government and get full support from Congress so we don’t have to give,” [low earth orbit]Manber spoke out in support of the Chinese and Russians.
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