Fact Check: Will International Space Station Crash To Earth Because Of Russian Sanctions?

Moscow: Russia has warned that sanctions imposed by Western nations following its Ukraine invasion 17 days ago may lead to a catastrophe: the International Space Station (ISS) may come crashing down to earth, reported AFP.

Head of Russian space agency Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin called for sanctions to be lifted as they could disrupt operation of Russian vessels servicing the ISS, resulting in the 500-tonne Russian segment of ISS — which helps correct its orbit — to “fall down into the sea or onto land.”

ISS, a modular space station, is a multinational collaborative project involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA and CSA.

Inter-governmental treaties and agreements govern ownership and use of the space station.

Last month, after US announced sanctions, Rogozin had said the ISS may deorbit and fall if Washington didn’t cooperate.

“If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from uncontrolled deorbiting and falling into the United States or Europe? There is also the option of dropping a 500-tonne structure to India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect? The ISS does not fly over Russia, so all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?” Rogozin had tweeted.

Is this a pressure tactic from Russia to get sanctions removed? Or is the world actually under threat?

Time will tell.