Russia and U.S. considering extending agreement on cross-flights - Roscosmos

KUBINKA, Moscow region. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Russia and the United States are ready to extend their agreement on cross-flights if it is successfully implemented, Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Space Programs Sergei Krikalev told Interfax.

"It is possible," Krikalev said in response to the relevant question.

"We need to perform the three flights that have been agreed, but, on the whole, we agreed straight away that if everything goes smoothly, and if we realize the advisability of such flights, we will continue them," he said.

Roscosmos announced on July 15 that it and NASA signed an agreement on joint cross-flights of Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts to the International Space Station. The first such flights are scheduled for the fall of 2022. Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will join the crew of the American Crew Dragon spaceship, while her place in the Russian Soyuz crew will be taken by NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio.