What are ITAR regulations?

ITAR is a set of U.S. government rules controlling the export and sharing of sensitive defense-related technologies and information.

What are the potential penalties for violating ITAR like Oleg Artemyev allegedly did?

Violating ITAR can lead to substantial fines, up to 20 years in prison for espionage, and potential bans from future government contracts.

Home / Science / Russian Cosmonaut Expelled Over ITAR Violation Allegations

Russian Cosmonaut Expelled Over ITAR Violation Allegations

Q: Why was Oleg Artemyev removed from the NASA mission?

Oleg Artemyev was removed due to alleged violations of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) after reportedly photographing classified materials at a SpaceX facility.

4 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev removed from SpaceX mission for alleged ITAR violations.
Artemyev reportedly photographed classified documents and rocket equipment.
ITAR violations can lead to severe penalties, including hefty fines and prison.

Russian Cosmonaut Expelled Over ITAR Violation Allegations

Veteran Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, 54, has been removed from the planned SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in early 2026. The alleged reason for his removal is a violation of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) after reportedly photographing classified documents and rocket equipment at a SpaceX facility in California. His replacement, Andrey Fedyaev, was announced by Roscosmos with a stated reason of a transfer to another job.