NASA, Roscosmos Extend ISS Cooperation Until 2028 Amid Tensions

NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy and Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov met face-to-face in Florida, marking their first in-person discussion since 2018 and focusing on ongoing cooperation aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and future lunar missions. Despite strained U.S.-Russia relations due to the Ukraine conflict, both sides agreed to continue joint ISS operations until 2028 and to collaborate on the station's deorbiting by 2030, underscoring the ISS as one of the last areas of active U.S.-Russia partnership. The meeting coincided with a postponed SpaceX Crew-11 launch, a joint mission involving U.S., Russian, and Japanese astronauts, highlighting the technical interdependence and diplomatic value of the ISS. While military and geopolitical tensions persist, the dialogue signals a potential thaw in civil space relations, emphasizing scientific diplomacy amid broader international challenges. Both agencies refrained from releasing extensive details, but the discussions included extending astronaut seat exchanges and exploring deep space cooperation. The ISS, valued at $100 billion and launched in 1998, continues as a critical platform for multinational collaboration despite global tensions.