A Russian cosmonaut has opted to resign rather than work alongside Americans on the International Space Station (ISS).
Aleksandr Skvortsov, 56, dubbed the "hero of Russia" by one Russian newspaper, recently expressed his dislike for working with Americans in an interview with a local outlet, Moskovskii Komsomolet.
IN SPACE - SEPTEMBER 17: In this handout photo provided by NASA, This view of the International Space Station over a blue and white Earth was taken shortly after the Space Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the orbital outpost at 7:50 a.m. CDT. The unlinking completed six days, two hours and two minutes of joint operations with the station crew. Atlantis left the station with a new, second pair of 240-foot solar wings, attached to a new 17.5-ton section of truss with batteries, electronics and a giant rotating joint. The new solar arrays eventually will double the station's onboard power when their electrical systems are brought online during the next shuttle flight, planned for launch in December.
Russian Cosmonaut Avoids Working With Americans in ISS
Skvortsov said a few things influenced his choice to resign, including the chance of working on another mission aboard the International Space Station alongside Americans.
He described his work with Americans as "assisting them in the execution of their research."
"It would have been nothing if the program included interesting work on the Russian segment, but most of the time I would have to work for the Americans, that is, to help them carry out their experiments," Skvortsov told the Russian publication (via Futurism).
Other factors, such as Skvortsov's age and motivation, contributed to his decision to resign.
1/3. Cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov who recently left the cosmonaut squad, explained his decision in a short interview to MK. He said that despite the fact that he is fit to fly as a commander of Exp. 70, it is already hard for him to participate in a one-year-long flight. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/dZtfRrXujL
— Katya Pavlushchenko (@katlinegrey) May 4, 2022
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"Sorry, but there is no proper motivation for this," he said in the same Russian news outlet.
He added that he would soon be 56 years old. Skvortsov claims he does not wish to commemorate his 60th birthday in space.
Skvortsov stated that he had no ill emotions against Roscosmos, the Russian Federation's governmental organization in charge of the space program, or its head, Dmitry Rogozin.
About Russian Tension in Space Due to Ukraine Crisis
Skvortsov's remarks came amid Russia's almost two-month-long invasion of Ukraine. CNBC said US President Joe Biden requested a $33 billion package from Congress last Monday to aid Ukraine amid its struggle against Russia. Ukraine's armed forces would get almost $20 billion.
Russia surreptitiously put a military cargo into space late last month. According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense (via Republic World), "The combat crew of the Space Forces of the Aerospace Forces successfully launched an Angara-1.2 light-class launch vehicle with a spacecraft in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defence."
Meanwhile, Russia has vowed reprisal against the United States, describing recent actions such as the possibility of labeling Russia as a state supporter of terrorism and the seizure of Russian assets as "crazy (per Reuters)."
The Russian space agency shot denied the idea that three of its cosmonauts were wearing Ukrainian flags to show solidarity in March. The suggestion that cosmonauts heading to the International Space Station were wearing yellow and blue uniforms to match the Ukrainian flag was dubbed "crazy" by the agency on social media.
The show stated that "sometimes yellow is just yellow," implying that not all colors have the same meaning.
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