Table of Contents
Why does NASA need the international space station?
The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique science laboratory. NASA is using the space station to learn more about living and working in space.
Why did NASA choose SpaceX?
NASA’s source selection documents showed that Starship was both cheaper and more capable than the landers proposed by Blue Origin and Dynetics.
Why do astronauts need to know Russia?
Originally Answered: Why do astronauts have to speak Russian? Because until SpaceX came into play, both NASA and ESA needed to use Soyuz rockets to send astronauts to the ISS. So they basically are going to be trained by Russians, to ride a Russian rocket and going to be staying in Kazakhstan before launch.
Why did Russia leave the ISS?
Back in 2015, Roscosmos began discussing plans to leave the ISS in 2024. This was at least partially due to tense relations between the U.S. and Russia following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Why did the US and Russia work together on the ISS?
Bush (1989-1993) administration, the primary rationales for expanded cooperation were to provide employment opportunities on non-military projects for Russian scientists and engineers, and to give U.S. industry access to Russian space technologies.
Is NASA stuck being dependent on Russia for space?
When Obama cancelled the Moon program, he outlined vague plans to send a manned mission to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars sometime thereafter, but many argue that these goals are unrealistic given current NASA funding levels. For now, it seems, if NASA wants to have humans in space, it’s stuck being dependent on Russia.
Will US-Russia space relations spill over into space?
A few recent events have raised the possibility that political strife between US and Russia may spill over into the space relationship. Last month, as part of the sanctions process, NASA announced that it would be suspending all non-essential contact with Russia.
Why does Russia want to control the International Space Station?
Its solar panels provide most of the electricity, and its gyroscopes are crucial in controlling the station in orbit. On a broader level, the space station represents one of the few prestigious international projects that Russia is currently involved with, something that probably appeals to Russian leaders.
How many Russian cosmonauts are in the International Space Station?
That’s because there are currently two US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station, orbiting about 260 miles above Earth’s surface. Russia, for its part, depends on the US segment of the space station for the electricity provided by its solar panels.