Despite Ukraine tension, Russia and America are with each other in space, American astronaut will return to Earth in Russian spacecraft

Despite tensions over the Ukraine invasion, cooperation between the United States and Russia continues. American astronaut Mark Vande Hei has set a new American record for the longest stay in space. Will return to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. According to the BBC, the Russian ship will land in Kazakhstan. Apart from Vande Hei, two Russian astronauts will also be brought back to Earth.

Joel Montalbano, program manager for NASA's International Space Station (ISS), told the BBC: "I can tell you with certainty that Mark is coming home... We are in contact with our Russian colleagues. There is no dispute about this. Not there." The top space scientist said that the astronauts are aware of what is happening on Earth but still work as a team.

What does the law say?

This is following International Space Law, which makes it mandatory for astronauts from all countries to "provide all possible assistance to astronauts in need, including emergency landings in a foreign country or at sea".

The Outer Space Treaty, under which International Space Law was established, was signed in 1967. It states that space activities are for the benefit of all countries, and any country is free to explore in orbit and beyond. The treaty also makes it clear that there is no claim to sovereignty in space; No nation can "own" space, the moon, or any other body.

Vande Hei has already broken the US single spaceflight record of 340 days and is now set to return home. Russia holds the world record for 438 consecutive days in space.

The Soyuz capsule carrying Vande Hei, and Roscosmos astronauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov docked at the ISS in April last year. Under space cooperation, the US controls power and life support on the ISS, while Russia controls other things, such as propulsion.

Also Read: In the atmosphere of war, if India wants to buy oil from Russia, will the price decrease?