The crisis situation between Russia and Ukraine is likely to have repercussions in many areas. In space, could this kind of conflict also have consequences, especially on board the ISS?
The decision was announced on February 21, 2022 by Vladimir Putin, during a televised address: the Russian president recognized the independence of two pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. The announcement was quickly condemned by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, which promise imminent sanctions.
In this context of a very serious diplomatic crisis, one can wonder about the many consequences of this situation — first and foremost, obviously, for the Ukrainian people. What about space? Could the escalation between Russia and Ukraine have consequences even in space, in particular on board the International Space Station (ISS)? Pete Harding, ISS writer for NasaSpaceFlight, provided some answers in an interesting thread on Twitter on February 22, 2022.
The Russian segment is separate from the rest of the ISS
The ISS is made up of two segments: an American segment, made up of modules developed by NASA (also including modules designed by the Japanese and European space agencies); a Russian segment, made up of modules developed by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. This second set is separate from the rest of the station, to which it is only linked by a single NASA module.
Could we then imagine that Russia decides to undocking its modules from the ISS, in such a context of increasing tensions? ” It’s just not technically feasiblevaluedPete Harding. The Russian and American segments are simply too deeply integrated and both provide services that the other needs “.
The problem would not concern the command of the segments, because the functions of control and which allow the survival of the crew, existing on the Russian segment, were copied identically on the American segment. ” The only thing the Russian segment provides that the US segment doesn’t is propulsive support », indicates the expert, adding that « its thrusters are the only means of propulsive altitude control “. These boosters of the Russian segment are very important, in particular, in the event of major maneuvers to vary the altitude of the ISS – crucial, when it is necessary to avoid space debris, for example.
But could Russia decide to remove this propulsive support from the American segment, without endangering its own segment? Not really, ” since the two segments are physically attached “. In other words, Russia would deprive its own segment of this propulsive support, “ the end result being that both segments would eventually fall back to Earth “.
Could NASA turn off a key component for Russian segment energy?
On the side of the American segment, would it be possible to take advantage of Russia in any way? NASA indeed has a big advantage, compared to the Russian segment: for budgetary reasons, the Russian segment has not been equipped with its own tower of solar panels. This therefore means that the Russian segment depends on the American segment to obtain its electrical energy. It is more precisely the American component ARCU (for “American to Russian Conversion Unit”) which makes it possible to transform the power supply of the American segment so that it can be used in the Russian segment. ” Without it, the Russian segment would be unable to produce enough energy to support itself. “, abstractPete Harding.
Nevertheless, as in the case of the propellant support of the Russian segment, threatening to turn off this component would not be a good idea for NASA to implement. Simply because ” a Russian segment without adequate power would not be able to provide propulsive support “.
Close the hatch between the two segments, a choice that would be risky
Another possibility: what would happen if the Russians decided to close the hatch separating them from the American segment, as if the ISS then became two adjacent but distinct stations? Not only could one wonder if the crews accustomed to living together would agree to carry out the order, but in addition, it could pose a problem in the event of an emergency or the need to quickly evacuate the ISS. ” If the hatches were closed between the segments (which would prevent airflow between them), Russia would be totally dependent on its own life support systems and could not be supported by Nasa systems in the event of a failure . »
What about access to the station? Now NASA has its own access to the station with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, but if it encounters a problem, the agency should be able to count on a Soyuz. If the agreement allowing the Americans to travel in a Soyuz and the Russians to travel in a Crew Dragon no longer existed, this could pose a problem.
In conclusion, it therefore seems essential that NASA and Roscosmos continue to cooperate on board the ISS, at least to a minimum, because, as Pete Harding sums it up well, ” the Russian and American segments depend on each other for their survival “.