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Space Agencies Renew Cooperation, Commit to ISS and Lunar Missions
31 Jul
Summary
- Roscosmos and NASA agree to keep ISS operational until 2028
- First in-person talks between agency heads in 8 years
- Plans for joint deep-space exploration projects
As of August 1st, 2025, the Russian space agency Roscosmos and NASA have reached an agreement to keep the International Space Station (ISS) in service until 2028. This decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing cooperation between the two space agencies, despite the political tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Houston, Texas, between Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. This was the first in-person discussion between the heads of the two agencies in eight years. During the talks, the two officials discussed the current status of ISS operations, as well as plans for future lunar missions and joint deep-space exploration projects.
"The dialogue went well," Bakanov told reporters after the meeting. "We agreed to continue operating the ISS until 2028," he said, adding that the agencies also discussed deorbiting the station by 2030. The ISS, the largest space station ever built, has been in orbit since 1998, serving as a unique platform for international scientific research.
Despite the political tensions, the ISS remains one of the few areas of continued cooperation between Moscow and Washington. Russia had previously indicated it might withdraw from the program after 2024, but the latest agreement suggests a renewed commitment to the joint venture.
