Row with Russia and SpaceX delays could leave NASA unable to reach ISS

Talk of sabotage on the International Space Station has exposed cracks in the US-Russia space relationship that could see NASA unable to fly astronauts into orbit

astronaut

Astronaut Paul W. Richards in 2001 during work to build the ISS

NASA

IF NASA wants to send humans to space, it has to stay friends with Roscosmos, its Russian counterpart. In turn, if Roscosmos wants to keep the International Space Station (ISS) running, it has to stay friends with NASA. But the US-Russia relationship in space has reached a critical point.

On 10 October, newly appointed NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine and Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin will meet in person for the first time. This meeting was sparked by a drill hole found last month …