Top-level Meeting Marks Rare Space Collaboration
Dmitry Bakanov, Roscosmos Chief, has arrived in Houston for high-level talks with NASA’s interim chief, Sean Duffy. This meeting, set for July 31, is the first direct discussion between the two space agency heads since 2018, according to Russian news sources.
Bakanov, who took over Roscosmos in February, will meet Duffy, the US Transportation Secretary and newly appointed interim NASA head by President Donald Trump. The planned discussions aim to strengthen ongoing joint efforts in space.
Focus on Key International Space Projects
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, both sides will discuss ongoing projects. These include the cross-flight programme, the planned extension of the International Space Station (ISS), and future plans to safely deorbit the station and dispose of it in the ocean.
Despite growing political tensions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, space remains one of the last areas of active cooperation between Russia and the US. Bakanov said the two countries are still working together through a joint task force focused on the ISS’s long-term future.
Previous and Planned Engagements
Bakanov previously met NASA’s Ken Bowersox in April at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. However, a full meeting between Roscosmos and NASA heads has not occurred since October 2018, when former Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin met NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at Baikonur.
During his current visit, Bakanov is expected to tour NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Boeing’s space facilities. He will also hold meetings with Boeing’s space programme leaders.
Ahead of the SpaceX Crew-11 launch on July 31, Bakanov will meet the Crew Dragon team. The crew includes Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, further highlighting joint efforts in orbit.
Tensions Remain Despite Dialogue
Although early talks between the US and Russia after Trump’s return to office aimed at rebuilding ties, the US president has recently shown frustration. On Monday, he gave Russia 10 to 12 days to take visible steps towards ending the war in Ukraine.
with inputs from Reuters
