The cross-flight program to the International Space Station (ISS) has been expanded with a mission and will take place aboard the American ship Crew Dragon in the first half of next year, with Russian Alexander Grebenkin on board, reports DEA NewsWith reference to the press service of Roskosmos.
According to the original plan, three missions of Russian and American ships to the ISS were to be conducted as part of cross-flights from 2022 to 2024.
The government agency said in a statement that two Russian cosmonauts, Konstantin Borisov and Alexander Grebenkin, will go to the ISS with the Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of cross-flights in 2023-2024.
“Alexander Grebenkin’s expedition expands the cross-flight agreement for one more mission,” said Roscosmos.
Borisov will go to the ISS in the second half of this year with the crew of the Crew-7 mission, and Grebenkin – as part of the crew of the Crew-8 mission in the first half of next year.
Yuri Borisov, former CEO of Roskosmos declarationThe next time Russian cosmonauts will leave in April-May 2023.