Flags of Our Comrades

The regrettable state of worsening enmity between the United States and Russia made an unexpected leap space-ward when three Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station photographed themselves posing with flags NASA construed to be anti-Ukraine propaganda.

The photos were subsequently posted to the Telegram channel of Roscosmos, the Russian Federation‘s state corporation responsible for space-flights, cosmonaut programs, and aerospace research. 

The images depicted cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev, and Sergey Korsakov holding the flags of the Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic—two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.

A caption beneath the photos read, 'Liberation Day of the Luhansk People’s Republic! We celebrate both on Earth and in space.' The post followed the 03 July capture of the city of Lysychansk by Russian forces. Lysychansk was the last major city held by Ukraine in Luhansk—Ukraine’s easternmost province. The caption went on to congratulate the head of the Luhansk People’s Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, on the new Day of the Great Victory.

NASA press secretary Jackie McGuinness stated in an 07 July email: “NASA strongly rebukes Russia using the International Space Station for political purposes to support its war against Ukraine, which is fundamentally inconsistent with the station’s primary function among the 15 international participating countries to advance science and develop technology for peaceful purposes.”

McGuinness’s rebuke shortsightedly pokes the Russian bear that is NASA’s primary partner on the International Space Station, and marks the first instance in which the space agency has openly denounced the actions of Russia and Roscosmos amid the Ukraine invasion.

McGuinness’s indignation belies assertions by NASA officials that the US space agency’s relationship with Roscosmos remains strong despite growing political tension between the US and Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

In March 2022, NASA administrator Bill Nelson stated: “Despite all of that, up in space, we can have a cooperation with our Russian friends—our colleagues. The professional relationship between astronauts and cosmonauts, it hasn’t missed a beat.”

For the last three-decades, NASA and Roscosmos have been the two largest contributors to and maintainers of the International Space Station. Notwithstanding thirty-years of fraternity and mutual endeavor, Roscosmos’s ongoing participation in ISS enterprise appeared doubtful in the weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of U.S. sanctions on major Russian industries.  Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, went so far as to insinuate that the station could come crashing down on the United States if Russia withdrew prematurely from the program.

Later, however, Rogozin hinted at revisiting the partnership with the U.S. despite the sanctions. Prior to the flag incident, Russia had been considering extending its partnership in the ISS through 2030. What affect press secretary McGuinness’s missive has on Russia’s inclination to remain in synchronous orbit with the U.S. remains to be seen. 

FMI: www.nasa.gov