Russia announced that he was not long, he was considering leaving the ISS next year. At the same time, Russia has been convincing China, and the two countries have plans to work together in space. The United States and Russia have worked together for a long time on board the ISS, having enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship that works as a symbol of cooperation.

Russian officials have been threatening to withdraw from the ISS project as soon as 2024. The US government, and NASA want the ISS to continue to operate up at least 2030. The Chief of NASA, Bill Nelson, said recently: “If Russia retires, it would not be fine.” Worse still than Russia that is removed from the ISS project is the fact that Russia has been talking about working closely with China.

NASA is currently prohibited by the Federal Law to work with China in any space project. Earlier this year, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint lunar base. Russia, leaving the ISS and working with China, could start a new space race.

The space race in the 60s will ultimately resulted in NASA, putting astronauts on the Moon. Before NASA can perform any conversation about cooperation with China, it would require explicit approval from the FBI or Congress. Nelson says that if Russia begins depending on China, he expects a new race to the Moon with China and Russia against the United States. Nelson is clear that he wants NASA’s cooperation with Russia. Continue in space.

For now, Russia continues to plan to make the necessary repairs to the ISS and continues to schedule flights for Russian cosmonauts to and from the space station. Cooperation continues for now, but it is not clear if that will happen more than 2024.