“I regret to say that in recent years, the direct communication between the state Corporation “Roskosmos” and NASA on a number of fronts has significantly dwindled – the words quoted Sergey Saveliev on the website of Roscosmos. – Instead of discussing dozens of projects of mutual interest, it comes down to either the delivery of astronauts to the International space station in the framework of the manned program, or for delivery in the US Russian RD-180/181. Ambitious projects related to the exploration of the moon, could become a serious factor for the cooperation between the two countries in difficult times.”
As noted by Sergey Savelyev, the delegation of the Russian space Agency officially named to the United States to discuss a wide range of issues, but in the end, the invitation of the head of NASA Jim Bridenstine was withdrawn because of pressure from senators.
“We have officially invited the leadership of NASA to himself, but the answer have not received. Hope he still followed and will follow in a positive way,” – concludes Sergey Saveliev.
Earlier it was reported that in February 2019 was scheduled to visit USA head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, who is under us sanctions. However, in January of the same year the Russian space Agency has received from NASA the official letter signed by the head of Jim Bridenstine, the withdrawal of this invitation.
Recall: in October 2018 Director of NASA Jim Bridenstine visited Russia to participate in the activities related to the launch of a new crew to the International space station. In response, NASA has invited the head of the Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin to visit the U.S. in early 2019.
As expected, during the visit, Rogozin will discuss the programme of work on the ISS to 2024 and beyond, including the possibility of joint development experiments. The main focus, according to experts, would be made on the discussion of prospects for cooperation in the lunar program and exploration of the solar system. Also highlighted was a visit to the University where he studied Breidenstein, and also, perhaps, one of the enterprises of rocket and space societies of the United States.
He Breidenstein said earlier that the administration of President Donald trump has decided to temporarily withdraw from the American sanctions that Rogozin so that he could make a trip to USA at the invitation of NASA.
But, as said Breidenstein in an interview published by The Washington Post, he made the decision to cancel the visit of Rogozin to the United States from-for positions of U.S. senators.
“We have heard from many senators that this (invitation of Rogozin to visit the USA) not a good idea,” said the head of the American space Agency. “And I sought to act in accordance with the interests of the senators, so I canceled the invitation”, he added.
