International Space Station (ISS)
The primary focus of discussions between Dmitry Bakhanov, Director General of Roscosmos, and Sean Duffy, acting head of NASA, will be the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS). This was stated by Stephen Siceloff, a public affairs representative for the U.S. space agency.
Roscosmos`s press service previously announced that Bakhanov arrived in the United States and is scheduled to hold talks with Duffy on July 31st. He will also meet with the Crew Dragon spacecraft team, which includes Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
«I am not certain of the precise topics they will address, beyond matters pertaining to the space station and its eventual decommissioning. This will involve extensive discussions, numerous agreements, extending the station`s operational life until 2030, and then its retirement. I believe this will be the central point of their agenda,» Siceloff stated.
On Tuesday, Bakhanov visited the U.S. segment`s Mission Control Center for the ISS in Houston, according to the state corporation. Additionally, the Russian delegation plans to visit Boeing`s production facility, where the reusable CST-100 Starliner crew spacecraft is being developed, and conduct discussions with the company`s space program management.
Before concluding their visit, the Russian delegation will tour the spacecraft assembly facilities of SpaceX.
Russia has extended the operation of its ISS segment until 2028. Previously, it was noted that other international partners aim to continue their participation until 2030. According to the head of Roscosmos, a draft plan for de-orbiting the ISS has been developed, and this process is expected to take approximately two and a half years.
