How seriously should we take Russia's latest threat to leave the ISS?

[Admin]

Russia's announcement Tuesday (July 26) that it would leave the ISS after 2024 sounds definitive, but experts disagree on how far the country will go.

How seriously should we take Russia's latest threat to leave the ISS? : Read more

 

[newtons_laws]

At the moment Russia's Progress cargo vehicles as well as carrying cargo to the ISS also fire their engines to reboost the ISS orbit as it gradually decays due to the very slight atmospheric drag still experienced at the ISS altitude. As the article says, the US Cygnus cargo vehicle has recently demonstrated a capability to boost the ISS orbit. (I don't think the Space X Dragon cargo vehicle has demonstrated such a capability?) If Russia does withdraw from the project then perhaps the Cygnus offers an alternative means of maintaining the ISS orbit, if that's not sufficient then I guess NASA could ask ESA to manufacture some more ATV cargo vehicles which demonstrated such a capability?