[ad_1]
The space agencies of both countries issued a joint statement Thursday that a leak last month was being investigated and that they would refrain from any information about rumors in Russia that a NASA astronaut would have deliberately pierced a hole in a Russian spacecraft. other comment.
The leak, which was less than one tenth of an inch in width, was detected for the first time on August 29th. She did not immediately threaten the crew aboard the station and Russian astronauts quickly repaired Russian astronauts.
But Russian media reports and statements by Dmitry Rogozin, director general of the Roscomos space agency, seemed to suggest the need to reaffirm cooperation between the world's most active space powers, which jointly manage the orbital station.
At first, officials suggested that a micrometeorite had pierced the spacecraft. But last week, Rogozin raised the possibility of sabotage.
In a Russian TV report, Rogozin said the theory of micrometeorites had been ruled out because the hole seemed to be coming from within. According to a translation of the Interfax news agency, Rogozine said: "What was it: a defect or intentional acts? Where did these acts go? On the Earth or already in orbit? Once again, I say: we reject nothing.
In recent days, articles in Russian publications have speculated that someone from NASA deliberately punched a Russian transport capsule, called Soyuz, moored at the station.
According to the report, Russian investigators suspect that a NASA astronaut fell ill. To bring back a sick crew member to Earth, three of the station's six astronauts are expected to leave for the Soyuz. But perhaps NASA did not want to pay the cost of a new launch of Soyuz, according to the report, so one of the crew resorted to sabotage to force an evacuation. (The hole was in the upper part of the spacecraft that is thrown before entering the atmosphere so that there is no danger to the astronauts.)
An article in the Kommersant newspaper indicates that the Soyuz is close to the American part of the station. The paper said Roscosmos had asked for medical records and video recordings of the movements and health of NASA's astronauts and that NASA was unlikely to comply to protect the privacy of astronauts.
The statement said Jim Bridenstine, NASA's administrator, and Rogozin spoke by phone to discuss the leak of the space station.
"The Administrator and the Director General noted speculation circulating in the media regarding the possible cause of the incident and agreed to postpone any preliminary findings and provide explanations until the 39, final investigation be completed, "the statement said.
The statement goes on to say that Bridenstine and Rogozin "have recognized that the entire team is dedicated to the safe operation of the station and all spacecraft moored to ensure the mission's success."
It was the first time the two men spoke since Bridenstine's confirmation in April, which had to face a long delay in the Senate.
Even during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union collaborated in space, beginning with the docking of a Soyuz and Apollo spacecraft in 1975. In 1993, the United States invited Russia to participate in the space shuttle effort in 2011, NASA relied on Russia to bring its astronauts to and from the station. This has been lucrative for the Russian space industry; Each Soyuz office currently costs more than $ 80 million.
But NASA does not buy more seats. Next year, after years of delays, Boeing and SpaceX will take on this role.
Source link
