Russia’s Roscosmos, NASA to hold first in-person talks at heads level since 2018, Russia says

Russia’s Roscosmos and the U.S. NASA will meet in person at the highest level for the first time since 2018.
The landmark meeting will take place in Houston on July 31, 2025. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov and NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy will lead the discussions.

This face-to-face meeting is their first since the October 2018 encounter between Dmitry Rogozin and Jim Bridenstine. Their 2018 meeting took place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Since then, the two agencies have continued technical coordination, but without top-level contact.

Talks Come at a Crucial Moment

Bakanov’s visit coincides with NASA’s upcoming Crew-11 launch. Scheduled for July 31, the mission will include Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The timing underscores ongoing collaboration, despite broader political tensions.

NASA officials have said the agencies will discuss extending the life of the International Space Station (ISS). The future of their cross-flight program will also be a key point. This program allows astronauts and cosmonauts to ride each other’s spacecraft. It helps ensure mission continuity in case of technical failures.

Focus on the ISS and Deorbit Strategy

One of the main topics will be planning the ISS’s final years. Both agencies must coordinate the station’s decommissioning and safe disposal. The controlled deorbit will require precision and teamwork to avoid any risks to Earth.

The ISS has long been a symbol of international cooperation. Despite global tensions, astronauts from both nations have continued to live and work together in orbit.

A History of Scientific Cooperation

Although their last top-level meeting was in 2018, Roscosmos and NASA never fully broke ties. They have maintained working relationships at technical levels. The Crew Dragon and Soyuz seat exchange programs have kept missions running smoothly.

Roscosmos Director Dmitry Bakanov emphasized the need for unity. “No matter how hard relations get on Earth, our shared mission in space needs cooperation,” he stated.

NASA echoed a similar sentiment. A spokesperson confirmed that the agency remains focused on safety and mission success, regardless of politics.

The Larger Context: Science Over Politics

Space policy analysts view the meeting as a positive sign. Dr. Elena Krylov from the University of Geneva called it “a hopeful signal that space can still unite rivals.”
Even during past conflicts, space remained a rare area of stability between the two countries.

Former astronaut Col. Rebecca Lin also stressed the importance of communication. “Spaceflight is global. It’s about coordination, not confrontation,” she said.

A Look Beyond the ISS

While the ISS is the immediate focus, long-term cooperation may extend beyond it. NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon. Though Russia is not a partner, it has expressed interest in lunar missions.
At the same time, Roscosmos is developing its own Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). It is also exploring partnerships with China and India.

Whether these future projects offer common ground remains uncertain. But many experts believe even partial collaboration can benefit all sides.

A Meeting That Matters

This meeting in Houston may shape the future of space cooperation. Discussions could lead to clearer agreements, new protocols, and improved coordination in orbit.
It also signals a willingness to keep science above politics—even in a divided world.

As the global space community watches, NASA and Roscosmos have a chance to build trust again. Their choices now could affect space exploration for decades.