The eROSITA telescope, built by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, was designed to operate in tandem with the ART-XC instrument. Following the deterioration of relations between Russia and Western countries tied to the events in Ukraine, German scientists temporarily suspended the German component. On June 4, Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, signaled an intention to activate the German telescope from the Spektr-RG observatory, despite the German side’s decision to pause.
I will say I have directed preparations to restore a paired operation of the German eROSITA with the Russian telescope at Spektr-RG, Rogozin announced in a broadcast on Russia-24. He asserted that the German decision to shut down the instrument for political reasons lacked moral grounding and that scientific work hinges on uninterrupted access to observatories. He claimed that the mistake would be corrected by enabling the German telescope through the Spektr-RG system, with the Russian side asserting control over its operation.
Lev Zeleny, scientific director at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which contributed to the Russian portion of the joint observatory, and an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, summarized the dispute in an interview with socialbites.ca. He explained strong opposition to the proposal, citing both political and technical concerns. The move to open the German telescope without prior coordination raised many questions within the scientific community. Two Russian Academy of Sciences researchers still sought clarity on command authority, data ownership, and how German colleagues would respond to Roscosmos’s decision.
One scientist cautioned that the project is not simply a domestic instrument and that proper governance would require clear roles for each party. It is technically feasible to enable access, but certain teams based in Germany would need to be established to manage the German instrument.
Rashid Sunyaev, scientific director of the Spektr-RG project, also opposed unilateral action to open the German component. He stressed the device’s high value and the need for careful, negotiated cooperation with partners to ensure the long-term viability of both observatories. He argued that the operation should be conducted under mutual agreement to allow for future re-deployment and coordinated use over decades, suggesting a staged approach with joint decisions on data sharing and science goals.
Sunyaev noted that even without the German half, the Spektr-RG system remains active, with ART-XC functioning while eROSITA is not yet replaceable. ART-XC is more attuned to higher-energy observations, whereas eROSITA covers softer, longer wavelengths that are essential for certain astrophysical investigations. The debate extended to a formal letter from the Russian Academy of Sciences to Roscosmos leadership, voicing concerns about managing a shared asset that originated outside Russia and outlining potential risks to the instrument’s integrity.
Some experts favored a different stance, arguing that ethical considerations were not at gridlock and that Western actions had already strained collaborations. A member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonauts suggested that while politicians are the ones who ultimately decide, scientists should not be unduly constrained by current tensions. He acknowledged potential friction with German astronomers and noted that the unilateral move could provoke a broader political response, though he did not view the action as an ethical breach by scientists themselves.
There was also mention of allowing distance-sharing of data by posting results publicly rather than routing them to the German side. It was proposed that the data be made accessible to the general scientific community, thereby limiting exclusive access and sustaining the integrity of ongoing collaborations. The broader sentiment emphasized that scientific relationships should weather political storms and that transparency could support continued progress.
In a separate statement, Rogozin asserted that national interests must guide space activities and that the observatory should serve the advancement of national science rather than political maneuvering. He urged harmony within Russia’s scientific community and space industry, describing the observatory as a tool for broader scientific advancement rather than a bargaining chip in international politics. The Roscosmos Telegram channel later offered a historical analogy, citing the 1966 Luna-9 mission and the early presentation of lunar imagery by a foreign observatory, noting that such incidents did not automatically equate to data theft in the eyes of the West. The post implied that similar circumstances should not derail future collaboration.
Ultimately, the decision to open the German telescope faced practical challenges, including reporting obligations and the need to align with existing agreements. Roscosmos signaled a willingness to explore pathways that would preserve scientific value while addressing concerns from partner institutions. The situation remains a test case for how large, multi-national instruments can be governed when geopolitical tensions rise, and how future deployments of foreign-enabled assets might be coordinated to maximize scientific return while protecting the interests of each contributing party.
Notes on the surrounding discourse indicate a spectrum of positions, ranging from strict maintenance of joint governance to arguments for broader public access to data as a way to safeguard the scientific payoff of the Spektr-RG project. The outcome depends on continued dialogue, formal agreements, and a shared commitment to advancing astrophysical knowledge across borders. In this context, the Spektr-RG collaboration is viewed as a case study in balancing scientific ambition with political realities.
Source attribution: statements from Roscosmos representatives and respected members of the Russian scientific community are reported for reference. The dialogue reflects publicly known positions and documented exchanges among space agencies and scholarly bodies involved in the Spektr-RG mission.