Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of former U.S President and NASA founder Dwight Eisenhower, has expressed her sentiments regarding the recent decision to cut ties with the Russian space program; calling the move "counterproductive and damaging."
In a speech before the U.S Senate panel, Eisenhower explained that ending NASA's ties with Roscosmos, the space program of Russia, is a mistake. She stated that the cooperation between the two countries is important in maintaining the International Space Station, where two NASA astronauts are living with three Russian cosmonauts now.
"Rolling back space cooperation could be counterproductive and damaging to our national security and long-term space agenda," Eisenhower said, as quoted by Orlando Sentinel. This comment was made in response to NASA's new travel regulations to NASA as well as restrictions in the communication between American and Russian scientists.
A NASA official who was present at the speech stated that Eisenhower may be right; however, he stated that for now, ISS is still safe.
"It's not a concern at this point. We have a very strong relationship with Roscosmos and our partners and doing day-to-day operations in a very effective manner," NASA's Associate Administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations, Bill Gerstenmaier said in an interview, as reported by Orlando Sentinel.
Earlier this month, NASA announced that it will suspend its space program ties with the Russian Federal Space Agency as the situation in Ukraine worsens. U.S President Barrack Obama has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin to stop invading Ukraine. The U.S government has put together an aid package for the newly-formed Ukrainian government and it has also acquired sanctions for Russian officials involved in the matter.
Though, it's decided that the U.S space agency will no longer work with the Russian space agency, it clarified that its ongoing operation with the Russian experts in the ISS will still continue.
