Scott Kelly and Russian area chief have interaction in Twitter struggle over Ukraine

On Wednesday, Kelly introduced on Twitter — in Russian — that he was returning a medal awarded to him in 2011 by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

“Mr. Medvedev, I’m returning to you the Russian medal ‘For Advantage in Area Exploration,’ which you introduced to me,” Kelly wrote, in accordance with a translated model of the tweet. “Please give it to a Russian mom whose son died on this unjust warfare. I’ll mail the medal to the Russian embassy in Washington. Good luck.”

The tweet got here in response to a put up from Medvedev that wished girls a “Completely happy Holidays.”

Social media propaganda

“If he’ll act like a baby, then I’ll deal with him like one,” Kelly stated. “It is simply unimaginable that the Russian area program would depart an individual behind in area that they have been chargeable for bringing dwelling. I do not see that occuring.”

However Kelly rapidly reconsidered after remarking how he additionally thought it was inconceivable that Russia would launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“Though I simply stated it was unimaginable, perhaps they could depart an individual behind. I do not know,” Kelly stated.

There are presently 4 NASA astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts, and one European Area Company astronaut residing and dealing aboard the Worldwide Area Station. However Vande Hei is the one NASA astronaut featured within the make-believe Roscosmos video.

“If I used to be him, I might really feel like I am simply going to maintain doing my job,” Kelly stated. “And in the event that they (Roscosmos) need to depart me up right here, then I will discover one other method dwelling.”

Kelly, who’s fluent in Russian after spending a number of years coaching in Moscow’s Star Metropolis, commends most Roscosmos workers for being “skilled, affordable folks” who “need this partnership to proceed.”

Worldwide cooperation

NASA has remained silent on Rogozin’s most up-to-date threats to desert Vande Hei and detach the Russian phase from the area station. However final week, NASA stated there have been no indicators Russia was withdrawing its help from the Worldwide Area Station because of US sanctions.

“We’re not getting any indications at a working stage that our counterparts usually are not dedicated to ongoing operation on the Worldwide Area Station. We as a group are working identical to we’re working three weeks in the past,” stated Kathy Lueders, NASA’s affiliate administrator for area operations.

The area station has been a beacon of worldwide cooperation for greater than 20 years, and Kelly stays assured it may proceed.

“NASA can do actually superb issues after they put their minds to it, and I do suppose they will maintain this partnership collectively,” Kelly stated.

However he additionally famous that “typically issues turn into extra necessary than spaceflight. On this case, it is Russia waging a warfare towards an harmless nation. And if I’ve the power to talk up and get consideration, and to assist the Russian folks see the reality, then I’ll do it.”

Ridesharing in area

For almost a decade, Russia’s Soyuz automobiles had been the one technique of getting astronauts to and from the area station. However that reliance ended after SpaceX debuted its Crew Dragon capsule in 2020, and the US regained human spaceflight capabilities.

There are, nonetheless, tentative agreements for US astronauts to experience on Russian Soyuz automobiles and for Russian cosmonauts to fly with SpaceX sooner or later. NASA stated in a press release Tuesday that it “continues to work towards an settlement with Roscosmos.”

Along with Vande Hei’s slated to return to Earth on a Soyuz car later this month, NASA astronauts routinely journey to Russia for coaching and vice versa.

Boeing can also be working by itself crewed capsule that may very well be able to ferrying astronauts to the area station for the USA and its companions. That venture, nonetheless, is years behind scheduled and beleaguered with hangups. The newest replace on that spacecraft got here from NASA in January, when NASA and Boeing revealed they have been wanting towards a Might launch of an uncrewed take a look at flight of Boeing’s spacecraft, Starliner.

In a press release Wednesday, NASA stated it “stays targeted on steady secure operations of the Worldwide Area Station and there’s no change to the company’s help for ongoing in-orbit and crew return operations.”

“Staffing ranges for NASA personnel in Russia fluctuate primarily based on operational calls for,” the assertion reads. “The company is in fixed contact with U.S. Embassy Moscow and the Division of State concerning the presence of NASA personnel in-country.”