INTERNATIONAL: Western countries' suspension of space projects in connection with Russia is a blatant posture of excessive politicization that threatens international space cooperation, said Dmitry Rogozin, director general of Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos on Wednesday.
Led by the United States, Western countries have imposed various sanctions against Russia due to its military operation in Ukraine since February 24.
In early March, Roscosmos has announced to change the purpose of its carrier rockets which were originally scheduled for launching satellites of British company OneWeb. Later the European Space Agency (ESA) has announced to suspend its collaboration with Russia on ExoMars rover mission, a mission to investigate life on Mars.
During an interview with the China Radio International (CRI), Rogozin has said the current situation has made it impossible for Roscosmos to continue cooperation with its European counterparts.
"In fact, Roscosmos has around 10 carrier rockets that were originally scheduled for launching European spacecrafts. But considering the ESA and the European Union's unscrupulous stance on Russia's special military operation and its sanctions against Roscosmos, we think it impossible to continue cooperation with them. Thus, these rockets will be used to launch spacecrafts from private companies or to meet the demands of our friends in partner countries who needs our launch capability," he has said.
Rogozin has also said the counterparts in Europe have been excessively politicizing space cooperation in order to play up to their leaders' Russophobia.
"In fact, Roscosmos has around 10 carrier rockets that were originally scheduled for launching European spacecrafts. But considering the ESA and the European Union's extreme position on Russia's special military operation as well as the sanctions against Roscosmos, we think it is impossible to continue cooperation with them. Thus, these rockets will be used to launch spacecrafts from private companies or to meet the demands of our friends in partner countries who need our launch capabilities," said Rogozin.
Rogozin has added the counterparts in Europe have been excessively politicizing space cooperation in order to play up to their leaders' Russophobia.
"The space cooperation between Russia and Europe no longer depends on Russia, but depends on the attitude of the European side. They should carefully analyze everything they built and destroyed with their own hands. Only after such an analysis and candid talks with Russia can the cooperation be possible to resume in a certain form. In short, I want to say that Roscosmos is very disappointed at our European counterparts. They have been excessively politicizing space cooperation in order to play up to their state leaders' Russophobia while putting the whole international space cooperation at risk," said Rogozin.
The Western sanctions against Russia are not limited in economy, but also involve culture and other areas.
An American NGO has recently announced to rename an event which was originally named with astronaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human entered the space.
Rogozin has stated such an attempt to erase Gagarin, the Soviet Union or Russia from the history of human spacecraft is stupid and irresponsible.
"The history of human spacecraft is written by the space explorers with their blood and sweat, not by schemers who attempt to rewrite the history. So we must be proud of our history. Gagarin not only belongs to Russia or the Soviet Union in the past, but also belongs to the whole world, which has nothing to do with politics," he has said.
