In a conversation with the agency on the eve of the talks, Sisilov said, “I believe this dialogue will be about how to pave this path. We will see how things progress,” in response to a question about the possibility of improved cooperation between the two agencies with the arrival of the administration of US President Donald Trump. Sisilov confirmed that NASA and Roscosmos continue to exchange information daily, despite the political differences between the United States and Russia.
The NASA spokesperson added, “You are aware of the disagreements with Russia, which did not begin in 2018, but on practical and technical levels, these discussions occur daily.” During a press conference, Krikalev stated, “We must work together to safely bring the station back to Earth.”
Ken Bowersox, Deputy Director of NASA for Space Program Implementation, affirmed that “Russia and the United States will remain open to many opportunities to continue cooperation in the field of space after the International Space Station is decommissioned, if circumstances permit.” Bowersox said during a press conference broadcast by NASA on its YouTube channel: “We still have many avenues to continue the partnership in the future, if circumstances allow.”
It is noteworthy that the International Space Station was scheduled to cease operations in 2020, but Roscosmos and NASA agreed in March 2015 to extend its operation until 2024. Russia later announced in 2023 a delay in ending its operation to 2028, while the other countries involved in the project set 2030 as the final deadline for the station’s operation.
