The interview with Cosmonaut Kikina, featured by DEA News, sheds light on how the political climate influenced the day-to-day work aboard the International Space Station (ISS). According to Kikina, the political situation did not hinder the team’s collaboration or the overall flow of missions. He emphasized that the ISS crews maintained their routines and continued joint experiments despite any external tensions.
Since 2016, Kikina has stood out as the sole woman in the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps. In 2017, she participated in the international SIRIUS lunar flight simulation program, an experience that helped broaden her perspective on international cooperation in space exploration. Her first spaceflight occurred on October 5, 2022, when she joined the SpaceX Crew-5 mission aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. This mission marked a historic moment as she became the first Russian cosmonaut to travel on a SpaceX vehicle. The mission lasted 145 days on the ISS, during which Kikina contributed to a variety of microgravity experiments and cross-country operational exchanges, demonstrating the evolving role of international partnerships in orbital research.
In mid-2022, plans about Russia’s long-term role in low Earth orbit began to take shape more clearly. Yuri Borisov, the Roscosmos chief executive, stated that Russia would depart from the ISS after 2024 while still honoring its commitments to international partners. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that the decision to withdraw had been in consideration for some time, signaling a strategic shift in Russia’s approach to space infrastructure and collaboration.
Beyond the ISS, Roscosmos and the Energia Corporation moved forward with a substantial program aimed at designing a new space complex—the Russian orbital station. The draft design, referred to as the R&D program for the Creation of the space complex of the Russian orbital station, carried a stated budget and a deadline for completion of the preliminary design by March 31, 2024. The collaboration sought to define the architecture, propulsion concepts, life-support systems, and long-duration mission capabilities needed to sustain independent operations in near-Earth orbit. This initiative reflects a broader pattern in which national space programs articulate future visions while balancing partnerships with international aerospace entities. The ongoing dialogue surrounding the project illustrates how scientific ambition and geopolitical factors intersect in contemporary space exploration, with experts assessing timelines, funding, and technology readiness in parallel with alliance considerations. (citation: Roscosmos press materials and industry analyses)