This Saturday, February 26, Russia announced that it was suspending rocket launches from the Kourou space base in French Guiana. This decision is in response to EU sanctions against Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine. US President Joe Biden has also announced upcoming measures, which could disrupt the global space order.
Thursday, February 24, the European Council banned the export to Russia of aircraft and aeronautical and space equipment. The United States, for its part, has announced sanctions against Moscow. According to Joe Biden, these measures are intended to ” damage their aerospace industry and harm their ability to build ships “.
But Europe has partnerships with Russia, notably between ArianeSpace and Roscosmos. A collaboration concretized in the company Starsem, specialized in the sending of satellites, thanks to the Russian launcher Soyuz from Kourou or Baïkonour. Without Soyuz rockets, therefore, impossible for Europeans to launch their satellites.
Russia, Europe and the United States engaged in the ISS
Russia, Europe and the United States are also dependent on each other for the proper functioning of the International Space Station. The European space agencies and NASA intend, at this stage, to maintain their cooperation.
The sanctions are not to the liking of Dmitri Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency. He accused the Americans of blackmail and ” destroy cooperation within the ISS. At present, the cohabitation of two Russians, Americans and a German within the station could calm the debates.