NASA and space partnerships with Russia face Ukraine challenge

For more than two decades, the space agencies of the United States and Russia have been partners through the International Space Station, but the latter nation’s invasion of Ukraine threatens to end that long-standing cooperation.

“The ISS program has led a charmed life” and “has overcome all sorts of political and technical issues,” but “we now face our greatest challenge,” Voyager Space president Jeff Manber told CNBC.

Manber has extensive experience in the two countries’ space dealings, dating back to his time leading the U.S. subsidiary of Russian manufacturer Energia in the 1990s. 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.

“The challenge of renewal past 2024 has never been greater,” Manber said.

For now, NASA said in a statement that the agency “continues working with all our international partners, including the State Space Corporation Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations of 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 Russia on Thursday afternoon, specifically mentioning that the penalties will “degrade their aerospace industry, including the space program.” Biden did not reference the ISS partnership in his speech, and NASA’s statement said that “the new export control measures will continue to allow U.S.-Russia civil space cooperation.”

“No changes are planned to the agency’s support for ongoing in orbit and ground station operations,” NASA said.