Could Force The U.S. To Recognize Russian Annexation Of Crimea

Russia may be holding a trump card in a diplomatic dispute between that country and the United States over Russia's annexation of Crimea.

NBC News reports that Russia may be about to disqualify U.S. astronauts from flying aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft unless the United States recognizes the annexation. And Russia is currently America's only ticket to ISS.

The first hint of the development came in a press notice from ITAR-Tass on September 8 indicating that Roscosmos is planning to resume cosmonaut training in Sevastopol, which is in the annexed area of Crimea. "Sevastopol may soon become a space training center again. Cosmonauts' training sessions will, possibly, resume in the water area of the main base of the Black Sea Fleet," the notice said. It is where cosmonauts would be trained in emergency water evacuations going forward. Soyuz flights generally return to Earth on dry land.

NBC News reports that if the survival training is shifted to Sevastopol, it will require those wishing to train to travel there without a Ukrainian visa. Not taking the training means you don't fly in a Soyuz capsule.

Astronauts from Europe and Japan would also be affected by the move, as would singer Sarah Brightman, who is set to become the latest space tourist next year. Her training is set to begin in January.

Roscosmos said in the press notice that it may shift other training to Crimea as well. NASA so far as been silent on the issue, but relying on Russia for transportation to ISS may come at a diplomatic price on top of the already-substantial financial cost.

FMI: www.nasa.gov, www.state.gov